MONTCLAIR

Local
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2018
NJPA
General Excellence Award
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Objectively informing.
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Sparking dialogue. Building community.

Vol. 4, No. 26 Thursday, June 25, 2020 75 cents

montclairlocal.org/membership

BLACK LIVES MATTER

INSIDE
Student voices rise
MHS principal
leaving for
Cedar Grove
News • Page 4

Special section
salutes the
Class of 2020
Graduation • Page 13

KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL

Thandi Bernard leads a marching chant as an estimated 1,000 Essex County students march through the streets of Montclair last Fri-
day, June 19 — Juneteenth — to support Black Lives Matter and oppose police brutaility and racism.

1,000 from Essex schools rally against racism

Store windows
showcase BY REBECCA JONES bration of Juneteenth, a holiday cele- about applying pressure on adminis-
for Montclair Local brating the emancipation of those who trators to be less tolerant to direct ag-
local artists
had been enslaved in the United States. gressions and microaggressions Black
Culture • Page 39 In an precedented event, an estimat- Also marching were alumni of students face. We want them to give
ed 1,000 students from area public and those schools, Black Lives Matter ac- more support to Black students who
private high schools — Montclair Kim- tivists, parents, teachers, Montclair feel marginalized.”
berley Academy, Newark Academy, Se- officials, and community leaders. The Hagos and fellow MKA senior or-
8

ton Hall Prep, Kent Place School, and march was part of the New Jersey Stu- ganizers A.J. Christian, Alina Smith,
Montclair, West Orange, Livingston, dent Blackout, in which students Es- Arnelle Larose, and Madison Green,
62635

and Columbia high schools, among sex-wide marched. along with MHS senior Shayla George,
others — joined forces on June 19 for “We’re standing in solidarity against reached out to students from other
00040

a march through Montclair, from the police brutality but we’re also voicing schools in Essex County and beyond,
MKA Upper School to Rand Park. our frustration with what’s going on and found they were not alone in their
It was a show of solidarity with the in our schools,” said Nahome Hagos,
0

victims of police brutality and a cele- MKA class of 2020. “This march is See STUDENTS, page 38
26

INDEX
PERMIT# 1041
CALDWELL, NJ

Bus. Review.....47 Culture ..........39 Kids Corner...45 Opinion .........10

PAID
Classifieds .....44 Games ...........46 Municipal ........2 U.S. POSTAGE

COVID-19 ........7 Graduation ...13 Obituaries .....37

PRST-STD
Page 2 Municipal Thursday, June 25, 2020

POLICE BLOTTER
MONTCLAIR
Objectively Informing, Sparking Dialogue, and Building Community

A nonprofit independent weekly source of Montclair news,

Local LURING
Thursday, June 11 — A 12-year-old
girl reported that she was skateboarding
Wednesday, June 10 — A vehicle
owner reported that the tires to her vehicle
were slashed on Walnut Street.
published every Thursday since 2017 on Oakcroft Avenue at approximately 2:15 Thursday, June 12 — Police responded
p.m. when she was approached by a male to Central Avenue and Brunswick Road on
Read us online Become a member who had emerged from bushes that run a report of vandalized stop signs. Three
www.montclairlocal.news montclairlocal.news/membership alongside the railroad tracks. The male signs had the word “Fascism” written in
said nothing, but motioned for her to come spray paint or ink.
CONTACT US
closer to him. The juvenile fled home and Sunday, June 14 — Police responded
Visit our office ......................................309 Orange Road, Montclair
Call our office ............................................................... 862-277-5200
notified an adult. The to Midland Avenue and
Email news tips/breaking news ..............news@montclairlocal.news suspect is described as a Walnut Street on a report
Email calendar listings ........................ listings@montclairlocal.news white male in his early of vandalized stop signs.
Email Letters to the Editor .................. letters@montclairlocal.news 60s, walking with a slight Two signs had the word
Email Obituaries ............................. obituaries@montclairlocal.news hunch, and was last seen “Fascism” written in spray
wearing a dark gray, paint, while “F*** Pigs!”
OUR STAFF long-sleeved flannel shirt, was spray-painted on a
light gray baggy pants, stop line.
Founders
and a black head and face Wednesday, June 17
Heeten Choxi Thalla-Marie Choxi covering. — A Greenwood Avenue
Executive Director Editor resident reported finding the word “Black”
Anne Keys Kevin Meacham THEFTS written in white chalk on a door frame.
keys@montclairlocal.news meacham@montclairlocal.news Tuesday, June 9 — A North Mountain Wednesday, June 17 — A resident
Avenue resident reported that his vehicle reported finding “FTP,” “SKD,” and “ACAB”
Associate editor News/education reporter
was stolen from his driveway. written in pink paint on a recycling bin at
Jaimie Julia Winters Erin Roll
Thursday, June 11 — A vehicle owner Garfield Park.
winters@montclairlocal.news roll@montclairlocal.news
reported that a book bag was stolen from Friday, June 19 — An Orange Road
Sports editor Culture editor inside her vehicle on Willowdale Avenue. resident reported after being away from
Andrew Garda Gwen Orel Thursday, June 11 — A vehicle owner her residence for an extended period of
garda@montclairlocal.news orel@montclairlocal.news reported that $10 was stolen from inside time, she discovered that her car had been
his vehicle on Maple Avenue. scratched upon returning.
Advertising sales manager Sr. advertising account exec.
Jack Marflak Scott Drukker
Sunday, June 14 — A vehicle owner Friday, June 19 — An Orange Road
marflak@montclairlocal.news drukker@montclairlocal.news reported that his wallet was stolen from resident reported that the rear windshield
inside his unlocked motor vehicle on Irving to her car was smashed.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Street.
Friday, June 19 — A caller reported BIAS
Kathleen Carroll Matthew Frankel Vate Powell
that two vehicles parked on Essex Avenue Friday, June 19 — A Bloomfield
Heeten Choxi Ollie Hartsfield Sidney Simon
Jennifer Dorr-Moon Justin Jamail Jake Silverstein
had been rummaged through and a pair of Avenue business owner reported finding
Stephen Engelberg David Jones Jason White
sunglasses, valued at $100, were stolen. a piece of paper on the front door of her
Friday, June 19 — A Yale Terrace business, stating “This is what Nazi Ger-
ADVISORY BOARD resident reported that two bottles of wine many looks like in 2020 Amerika. Are you
were stolen from her vehicle. proud?” It is unknown if the note intended
Jonathan Alter ......... MSNBC analyst, Daily Beast columnist, author Friday, June 19 — A Yale Terrace to target the victim due to her faith or if it
Harvey Araton ........................... Author, New York Times contributor resident reported that a soccer bag contain- was a general political statement regarding
Jim Axelrod ...................... Senior national correspondent, CBS News
ing cleats was stolen from her vehicle. unrest in society.
Nelli Black ................................ Senior producer, investigations, CNN
Rukmini Callimachi ............ Foreign correspondent, New York Times Friday, June 19 — An employee of Thai
Brian Carovillano ........................ Managing editor, Associated Press Chef on Bloomfield Avenue reported that The police blotter is provided to Montclair
Neil Carruth ........ Sr. director, on-demand news programming, NPR an outdoor flower pot was stolen from the Local at the discretion of the Montclair Police
Henri Cauvin ............................................... Senior editor, ProPublica property. Department and may not reflect the complete
David Chen ........................... Investigative reporter, New York Times scope of police activity. Any incidents described
Rachel Fishman Fedderson ................CEO/publisher, The Forward VANDALISM are merely allegations, and any persons
Ian Frazier .............................................. Staff writer, The New Yorker
Tuesday, June 9 — A complainant mentioned in the blotter are presumed innocent
David Halbfinger ............... Jerusalem bureau chief, New York Times
Tom Johnson ................ Executive producer, “The Circus,” Showtime reported finding vandalism in the Crescent until proven guilty in a court of law. The MPD
Charisse Jones ............National business correspondent, USA Today Deck, mostly written in red marker. The encourages anyone who wishes to report criminal
Benilde Little ...............................................Author, former journalist said vandalism consisted of “Black Lives or suspicious activity, or who has information
John Mooney ......................................... Founder/CEO, NJ Spotlight Matter,” “Blue Lives Murder,” “BLM,” “Cops pertaining to an ongoing investigation, to call
Stefanie Murray ......... Director, Montclair State University Center for R Murderers,” “Solidarity Forever,” and 973-744-1234. In an emergency, residents are urged
Cooperative Media “Destroy Capitalism.” to call 911.
Winnie O’Kelley ...... Executive editor, Bloomberg News; professor of
journalism, Columbia University
Mark Porter .......................................Former editor, Montclair Times
Andy Rosenthal.................................... Retired editorial page editor,
New York Times
Joel Rudoren ........................................ Editor-in-Chief, The Forward
Dale Russakoff ............... Author, former journalist, Washington Post New council to be sworn in July 1 on TV34
Eric Roston ............................. Sustainability editor, Bloomberg News The new Township Council will be Councilman William Hurlock, Second
Rachel Swarns .............................. Associate professor of journalism,
sworn in on July 1 at 11 a.m. , in a ceremony Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager,
New York University
Jennifer Saba ...................................................... Columnist, Reuters that will be broadcast live on TV34 and the Third Ward Councilwoman Lori Price
Mary Alice Williams ......................... Veteran television news anchor township’s YouTube channel. Abrams, and Fourth Ward Councilman
Karen Yourish ................................. Graphics editor, New York Times The new council will include Mayor Sean David Cummings.
Kate Zernike ....... Author, national political reporter, New York Times Spiller, at-large Township Councilmen The new council’s first scheduled public
Peter Yacobellis and Bob Russo, First Ward meeting is Tuesday night, July 7.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Municipal Page 3

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MUNICIPAL CALENDAR

Proposal would reverse Municipal Meetings

direction of Glenridge Ave.

Remote meetings will be televised on TV34 and the
township government’s YouTube channel. The public can
participate by computer or by telephone.
Visit montclairnjusa.org for more information.

BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS Refuse & Recycling

winters@montclairlocal.news
REFUSE Drop-off of materials of
any kind at the Department
Plans for an upgrade to a one-block Sect. I (Thursday/Monday):
of Community Services,
portion of Glenridge Avenue between June 25, June 29, July 2 219 North Fullerton Ave.,
Bloomfield Avenue and Forest Street remains suspended. This
were unveiled at the June 18 meeting Sect. II (Friday/Tuesday): includes recycling and elec-
June 26, June 30 tronics disposal.
of the Montclair Historic Preservation
Commission. Bulk waste is limited to
The direction of the one-way street RECYCLING three items; no item may
will be reversed, with traffic flowing east Area A (Thu.): June 25, July 2 weigh more than 50 pounds.
and right turns from Bloomfield Avenue Area B (Mon.): June 29 No cardboard, Styrofoam,
Area C (Tues.): June 30 or plastic bags will be col-
allowed. Parking will be eliminated lected with bulk waste.
along the north side of the street, and Area D (Wed.): July 1
adjustments will be made to parking For maps showing refuse
spaces on the south side. BULK WASTE PICKUP and recycling zones go to
The reversal of direction will give Section I: the Community Services
COURTESY PLANNING DEPARTMENT Wednesday, July 1 section of montclairnjusa.
motorists easier access to the new org, where you will also find
municipal garage on Glenridge Avenue Plans show the proposed reversal of direction the A to Z Disposal Guide,
that is expected to open sometime this of Glenridge Avenue (outlined in red) at its in- Section II: with information on how to
tersection with Bloomfield Avenue (lower left). Wednesday, July 8
year. The project is part of the county’s dispose of anything.
overhaul of Bloomfield Avenue pre-
sented last October. have 11 lights when done — the signal at For more info, call the Dept. of Community Services at 973-509-5711.

County officials said then that they Glenridge Avenue will be removed, but
hoped to break ground on the overhaul lights will be added at Midland Avenue
this fall, with construction lasting until
the fall of 2021. County projects were
and Seymour Street.
Design phase costs are being covered
EDITOR’S NOTE
never shut down during the pandemic. by the county, while the federal Local
The project was met positively Safety Program will fund the construc- A June 11 article about its Feb. 19 meeting, which
by most, but at the Oct. 15 Township tion costs, estimated at $15 million. structural racism in the was denounced by many
Council meeting some residents — and The main impetus for the overhaul is public schools (“Untangling parents as intimidating and
Councilman-at-large Rich McMahon — the problematic and dangerous traffic challenges to equity,” potentially criminalizing
were against the change to Glenridge, flow around the Five Corners intersec- page 4)quoted interim those who had expressed
voicing concern over the reversal of the tion — where South Fullerton Avenue, superintendent Nathan their opinion about Dr.
direction and the effects it might have North Fullerton Avenue, Church Street, Parker on ways to address Parker’s comments and
on traffic and businesses. Glenridge Avenue and Bloomfield Ave- the problem, but failed to demanded his resignation.
Bloomfield Avenue, officially part nue converge — said Martin Schwartz, mention as context remarks Montclair Local regrets
of County Route 506, is owned by the who has lobbied the county for a change he made last fall about omitting this essential
county and is a major transportation for more than a decade. teachers’ attitudes toward context. We have edited
link. The project will encompass a County engineers said that the over- race, which generated the online version of the
1.2-mile section beginning at the inter- haul has been in the works since 2006, public criticism. original article to include
section of North and South Mountain and that they met with town planners, The story also did that information. We are
avenues and ending at the intersection the engineer, and committees to come not mention the police committed to covering
of Maple Avenue and Pine Street. The up with the plans. Maser Consulting is presence brought in by racism in our town and to
current 10-traffic-light section will doing the designs. the Board of Education at improve the way we do it.

Summer Sessions are for High

School and Visiting Students, too!
There’s still time to earn credits and save big
on tuition and fees. Stay on track, get ahead,
and get one step closer to your degree.

New sessions begin July 13 and August 10.

REG IS T E R TO D AY: montclair.edu/summer

7/20
Page 4 News Thursday, June 25, 2020

MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MHS principal to leave district

Grosso to become superintendent in Cedar Grove
BY ERIN ROLL tion to the children of our communi- that he would be stepping down to
roll@montclairlocal.news ty,” he said. “I look to respect and car- become the new superintendent
ry on that tradition, paving the way of schools in the Mountain Lakes
Montclair High School’s principal for new and successful opportunities School District.
is stepping down to take a new po- for our children and staff.” “Mr. Grosso is an excellent princi-
sition as Cedar Grove’s superinten- Cedar Grove board members vot- pal, an excellent educational leader,
dent of schools. ed unanimously on the appointment. and I think he’ll do an excellent job
The Cedar Grove BOE announced “Today is a really, really good day. in Cedar Grove,” interim Superin-
Anthony Grosso as its new superin- This is a beginning of a new chapter tendent Nathan Parker said Tuesday
tendent at a special meeting Tuesday, with a new leader,” said Cedar Grove night.
June 23. Grosso will succeed current BOE President Christine Dye. Parker cited Grosso’s years of
superintendent Michael Fetherman, Board member Lenn Slondoria service in the Montclair schools, in-
whose contract with Cedar Grove said: “We got the guy that we want- cluding working at the elementary,
will expire in August. ed.” middle and high school levels. “He
Grosso is expected to take over in Grosso was named as MHS’ has really great preparation for be-
FILE PHOTO
Cedar Grove on Aug. 24. principal in October 2018, succeed- ing a superintendent of schools, and
He thanked the Cedar Grove BOE ing James Earle. Prior to working I think he’ll do well.” Anthony Grosso, currently the prin-
for its vote of confidence. “Cedar at MHS, he was the principal at As of press time, Grosso had not cipal at Montclair High School, has
been named as the new superinten-
Grove has a long-standing tradition Watchung and then at Glenfield. replied to a request for further com- dent of schools in Cedar Grove.
of academic excellence and dedica- Fetherman announced in May ment.

FEEL SAFE Township offers grants for local businesses

IN OUR ER
In an effort to assist business associations to has offered grant funding
township businesses, the cover costs for equipment to its businesses for
Montclair Township Coun- or other necessities related recovery purposes,” Mayor
cil is making $150,000 in to expenses incurred due to Robert Jackson said. “It is
township grant funding the COVID-19 emergency. hoped that the grants and
Emergencies don’t wait, available to small busi-
nesses, to the BID and to
“I know of no other New
Jersey municipality that
other measures put in place
will help our local busi-
and neither should you. nesses get back on their
feet during the pandemic,
It Is Safe to Apply while also helping them
For LIFE INSURANCE adopt best practices to
AND DISABILITY INSURANCE keep their employees and
In This Time Of COVID-19 customers, and our com-
munity, safe.”
Grants will be awarded
on a first-come basis.
Requirements for business
grant eligibility:

• Applicants must be
Emergencies still happen every day, and located in the township;
at Mountainside Medical Center you can • Applicants must have
25 or fewer employees;
feel safe. We are here to care for you and
• The grant cap is $1,000
your family whenever emergencies occur. If No Contact Underwriting If You Are Healthy
per business;
you are experiencing stroke or heart attack CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION 973-783-6600 • Small businesses, sole
symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately and take an proprietors, home-based
ambulance to Mountainside Medical Center. companies, and nonprofits
are eligible;
• Applicants must be
registered to do business in
the state.
Home • Auto
Life • Commercial
1 Bay Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 210 Bellevue Avenue www.
Upper Montclair, NJ
973-429-6000
www.sanfordinsnj.com
montclairlocal
mountainsidehosp.com/ED Geff F. Sanford Bruce Sanford
.news
Thursday, June 25, 2020 News Page 5

PRIMARY ELECTION

Making sure your choice counts

Voters will be his name consistently.
On Saturday, the League of Wom-
able to ‘cure’ en Voters of Monmouth County held
a Zoom seminar designed to educate
rejected ballots voters on the mail-in voting process,
part of an effort to protect poll work-
ers, voters, and the process, said
BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS League president Peggy Dellinger.
winters@montclairlocal.news Residents who may need help
with voting can go to polling places,
Voters in New Jersey’s July 7 pri- but will use provisional ballots. Vot-
mary election will have the opportu- ers are encouraged to cast their bal-
nity to “cure” mail-in ballots that are lots by mail.
rejected by their county.
Following the May all-mail-in HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR
election, the state NAACP and the ERIN ROLL/STAFF
VOTE IS COUNTED
League of Women Voters filed a com- Officials say voters must make sure to fill out the certification flap and not damage To fill out the mail-in ballot prop-
the flap.
plaint against New Jersey’s secretary erly, use the specified type of pen or
of state, asking that a procedure be pencil, choose the candidates, and
established by which voters are no- sex County Board of Elections. which mail-in and provisional place the ballot in the envelope with
tified of the deficiencies in their re- As New Jersey continues to deal ballots are only counted if elec- the certification flap. Do not tear or
jected ballots and then are given an with the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. tion officials — who the suit claims damage the flap; fill it out and sign
opportunity to “cure” them, to get Phil Murphy announced last month are not properly trained in signa- it. If you tear or make a mistake on
them counted. that for the July 7 primary, mail-in ture-matching — determine that the certification flap, call the Essex
On Tuesday, June 16, an agreement ballots will automatically be sent a voter’s signature on their ballot County Board of Elections to request
was reached by the parties in the to the state’s active Republican and “matches” the signature on their bal- a new one.
suit establishing a notice-and-cure Democratic voters, and applications lot application or voter registration Place that envelope in the post-
process for mail-in and provisional for mail-in ballots will be sent to un- form. age-free envelope and fill out the
ballots for the primary election. The affiliated and inactive registered vot- Under this system, thousands of back of the envelope on the chain
U.S. District Court of New Jersey ap- ers. ballots are rejected each election be- of custody on the ballot. Even if a
proved the agreement. It will only In addition, a limited number cause of signature or penmanship spouse carries the ballot to the mail-
pertain to ballots rejected due to sig- of polling places will be set up for issues. Currently, New Jersey voters box that must be stated on the back.
nature issues. in-person voting, which will large- whose ballots are marked as a mis- Due to mail delay and the volume
In May’s special elections, in ly occur by provisional ballot. This match are not given a rejection notice of ballots that will need processing
which 31 municipalities, including means that almost every vote cast in or opportunity to cure any errors. in the primaries, Dellinger suggested
Montclair, held mail-in-only may- the primary election will be subject If the agreement is made perma- getting your ballot mailed as soon as
or and council elections, one-tenth to a signature match. nent by the court, it would establish a possible.
of ballots submitted were rejected Murphy also announced that the notice-and-cure process, potentially Voters should be notified if their
either due to late deliveries or sig- primary election will allow a sev- saving thousands of ballots from im- vote was rejected, but voters can
nature problems. The state required en-day window for ballots post- properly going uncounted. also check the status of their ballot
that ballots be postmarked by May 12 marked by July 7 to be received by The League of Women Voters of by calling 877-658-6837. Only voters
and received by May 14 to be count- election officials. New Jersey and the NAACP New with ballots rejected due to signa-
ed. While 19 percent of the reject- Jersey State Conference were joined tures will have the opportunity to fix
“It is unacceptable to deprive peo- ed May election ballots throughout in the suit by three individual plain- the problem. Ballots received after
ple of their franchise to vote, partic- New Jersey were rejected due to late tiffs, including William M. Riggs, a July 14 will be rejected.
ularly using the unproven method receipt, 26 percent of the rejections 78-year-old Middlesex County res- Voters can also drop off ballots
of signature-matching,” Richard were due to signatures not matching. ident whose hand tremors brought at a special designated box at Mont-
T. Smith, president of the NAACP Sixteen states currently have laws on by Parkinson’s disease make it clair’s municipal building, 205 Clare-
New Jersey State Conference, said allowing voters to “cure” signatures virtually impossible for him to sign mont Ave.
prior to the court’s approval of the that are rejected. New Jersey does
agreement. “The rejection of ballots not.
without an opportunity to cure has In states that allow for verification,
occurred at the highest rates in New the voter is contacted, the problem is
Jersey’s most diverse counties. With explained, and the voter is asked to
this settlement, we will have fixed verify the information. Most states
the problem for the July 7 primary allow for both in-person verification
election, a huge step forward. We will or a way for voters to provide a signed
now continue our challenge to make statement verifying that they are the
these changes permanent.” one who signed the ballot, along with
In Montclair, 1,101 ballots, or 9 a copy of identification. 973-746-6800
0002676448-01
0002676448-01
0002676448-01

percent of all votes cast, were reject- As the agreement applies only to
0002676448-01

106 Walnut Street • Montclair

000267644
000267644

ed. Of those rejected, 222 had signa- the July 7 primary, the NAACP and
000267644
000267644

ture problems, 685 arrived too late League of Women Voters suit will www.klingarts.com • roger@klingarts.com
www.klingarts.com
to be counted, 108 had certification continue pending a resolution. www.klingarts.com
www.klingarts.com
www.klingarts.com
problems, and the remainder had The lawsuit challenges New Jer-
other problems, according to the Es- sey’s signature-match system, in
Page 6 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Make reservations for outdoor dining - or call up for takeout!

Book your stylist to freshen up and look sharp.

Shop our stores again for cool looks and the best gifts.

Get inspired by the new storefront art exhibitions downtown from

Fresh Air Montclair Exhibitions Presented by BDP Holdings/Bridget
& David Placek and The Bravitas Group/Silver Family Foundation.

Check out the Fresh Air Montclair Fashion Parade & Ribbon
Cutting on Sunday, Jun 28 at 3pm starting at 18 So. Fullerton Ave.

Welcome back to Montclair Center!

We can’t wait to see you again!

Fresh Air Montclair Exhibitions Presented by BDP Holdings/Bridget & David Placek
and The Bravitas Group/Silver Family Foundation is a joint project from Clerestory
Fine Arts, 73 See Gallery Design Studio and the Montclair Center BID. Additional
support by Whole Foods Market. Visit freshairmontclair.com

staycation ad2.indd 1 6/22/20 9:40 AM

Thursday, June 25, 2020 COVID-19 and Montclair Page 7

Good hair days Essex County

COVID-19 cases
Numbers calculated by Essex
County; may differ from what
Personal care individual towns are reporting.
Numbers current through

shops reopen, Wednesday morning, June 24.

Cases Deaths
rec areas to follow Newark 7,717 620
East Orange 1,936 208

ERIN ROLL
BY
Irvington 1,411 148
and JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS West Orange 1,240 173
roll@montclairlocal.news Bloomfield 1,073 63
winters@montclairlocal.news Orange 998 82
Belleville 994 61
New Jersey began moving fur- Livingston 491 68
ther into phase two of reopen- Nutley 485 35
ing this week, with personal care Cedar Grove 466 105
businesses such as salons, barber- Montclair 421 46
shops, hair-braiding studios, and Maplewood 314 26
tattoo parlors being able to reopen.
West Caldwell 263 44
In July, the state will allow
Millburn 146 7
amusement parks, water parks,
and playgrounds, which remained COURTESY STATE OF NEW JERSEY Fairfield 133 17
closed after other recreation areas Gov. Murphy addresses reporters at Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing. Verona 120 13
reopened, to open back up. Caldwell 113 8
However, Gov. Phil Murphy on of June, that percentage stands at June 23 is down, at 1.96 percent, South Orange 98 4
Tuesday continued to urge resi- 22 percent. A total of 650 hospital- compared to 2.42 percent June Roseland 85 15
dents not to let up on social dis- izations and 50 deaths have been 22, and the virus transmission rate No. Caldwell 41 4
tancing and mask use, especially reported for that age group, said was 0.81 up from June 22’s 0.78. Glen Ridge 40 8
since the state is concerned about Health Commissioner Judith Per- The positivity rate has started Essex Fells 23 2
possible flare-ups of COVID-19 sichilli. to creep back up in certain coun- Total 18,608 1,757
during the summer months, par- “No one’s invincible,” Murphy ties, especially in South Jersey. Since 6/17 231 3
ticularly among young people. said. “Thank God the loss of life is Officials reported 57 new deaths,
The announcements were made less, but it’s still a loss of life.” compared to 27 on Monday, bring-
on June 23 so families could have Furthermore, Persichilli said, ing the state total to 12,949.
clarification on what would be the younger population may be as- “What we cannot have is a one- New Jersey
open as the Fourth of July hol- ymptomatic and not know they are day increase becoming a trend, be- COVID-19 cases
iday approaches, Murphy said. COVID-positive, and spread the cause people gave up on social dis-
Numbers listed by county,
Last week, state officials allowed virus to more vulnerable popula- tancing,” Murphy said. “Don’t be a
according to the state’s dash-
for firework displays to be held at tions. knucklehead and ruin it for the rest board at covid19.nj.gov.
beaches, boardwalks, and lake- of us.” Numbers current through
fronts. THE LATEST NUMBERS While New Jersey’s situation Wednesday morning, June 24.
Further guidance is expected The numbers of hospitaliza- was improving, he said, the state
Cases Deaths
later this week about the reopening tions and critical care patients still ranks high on certain metrics,
Bergen 19,069 1,706
timeline for indoor entertainment increased slightly on Tuesday, fol- including eighth overall for hos-
Hudson 18,773 1,268
venues such as arcades. lowing several days of decline. pitalizations per day and fifth for
New Jersey is in phase two, as On June 14, hospitals reported deaths per day per capita. Essex 18,592 1,765
more businesses and venues start 1,351 patients, including 351 criti- On Tuesday, Essex County Passaic 16,794 1,019
to reopen. The current indoor cal-care patients and 267 on venti- health officials reported 22 new Middlesex 16,640 1,104
gathering limit of 50 will now be lators. By June 22, that number was cases, compared to 11 new cases on Union 16,341 1,139
upped to 25 percent of capacity, down to 1,092 patients, including Monday, bringing the county to- Ocean 9,466 860
up to a maximum of 100. Outdoor 307 in critical care and 216 on ven- tal to 18,615. The county has added Monmouth 8,998 700
gatherings, which had been limit- tilators. But that was an increase 12 additional deaths to its count, Mercer 7,560 530
ed to 100 people, can now include over June 21’s numbers: 1,029 hos- bringing the county total to 1,762. Camden 7,163 421
up to 250 persons. pitalizations, 287 critical-care pa- On Monday, the number of deaths Morris 6,727 642
But Murphy continued to urge tients, and 213 on ventilators. had been revised downward, from
Burlington 5,056 372
all residents to continue wearing Hospitals sent home 48 patients, 1,761 to 1,750.
Somerset 4,818 441
masks and practice social distanc- but admitted 50 new patients, on Montclair health officials re-
Cumberland 2,894 126
ing, as officials watch for signs of June 22, compared to 70 discharges ported another case on June 23,
any flare-ups in cases. and 46 new admissions on June 21. bringing the total to 440 cases. Atlantic 2,750 190
At least 29 states, including Murphy said that a one-day in- June 22 saw three new cases. The Gloucester 2,489 172
Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, crease in and of itself was not a number of deaths remains at 50. Warren 1,221 144
have seen flare-ups in COVID-19 cause for concern, but care needed The number of children with Sussex 1,178 153
in recent weeks. At least one state, to be taken to ensure that it did not multisystem inflammatory syn- Hunterdon 1,062 67
Louisiana, has had to slow down become a trend. drome remains at 44, with no Salem 752 67
its reopening process after an in- New Jersey health officials re- deaths reported. All of the chil- Cape May 694 63
crease in cases. ported 382 new cases on June 23, dren, ranging in age from 1 year to Total 169,734 12,949
In April, the 18-to-29 age group compared to 359 on June 22, bring- 18 years old, have tested positive Since 6/17 2,308 222
accounted for 12 percent of all ing the state total to 169,734 cas- either for COVID-19 or for COVID
COVID-19 cases in New Jersey. As es. The positivity rate for cases on antibodies.
Page 8 COVID-19 and Montclair Thursday, June 25, 2020

Growing business post-COVID

Incubator set to Montclair State alumna Jennifer
Bladel also debuted her COVID-19
help new ventures small business photography exhib-
it as part of Fresh Air Montclair art
exhibitions that are showcased in
BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS even test their concepts in the heart storefronts throughout Montclair.
winters@montclairlocal.news of a downtown center, said Carley The winners of the StartUp
Graham Garcia, executive director Montclair 2020 competition are
Thinking about opening a busi- of the Feliciano Center. taking part in the Lab as well: biol-
ness post-COVID can be daunting. “We will also be able to see how ogy majors Hassan Kashif and Zaki
But an incubator space at 10 Lack- consumers behave post-COVID, Tahir’s start-up, Dr. Floss, is a sin-
awanna Plaza gives new entrepre- and how entrepreneurs can get gle-use, eco-friendly device that al-
neurs a way to test the waters at them to engage,” Garcia said. lows customers to floss all of their
little cost and with much-needed Open to both the public and teeth simultaneously.
support in uncertain times. Montclair State students, the The Innovation Lab is a two-year
The Montclair Innovation Lab, 1,200-square-foot incubator space pilot program that was expected to
an extension of Montclair State will provide aspiring business open prior to the COVID-19 lock-
KATE ALBRIGHT/ FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
University’s Feliciano Center for founders with access to execu- down. In recent months, it has been
Entrepreneurship & Innovation, tive-level coaching, virtual work- Hassan Kashif holds his 3-D printed pro- holding discussion sessions, “Mont-
totype of Dr. Floss.
opened its doors Monday, June 22, shops during the pandemic, and clair Mondays,” in which business
with a grand opening event. even a point-of-sale storefront to owners throughout Montclair have
The pandemic’s impact on Main test their concepts, Garcia said. Gleason. been calling in and discussing, and
Street has been catastrophic, with The location is also iconic, she On Monday, the Lab offered a supporting each other, as they re-
the number of active business own- said, as it was once the home of cos- food tasting created by Montclair open in the post-lockdown era. The
ers in the U.S. plunging by 22 per- metics entrepreneur Bobbi Brown. State students Diamonique Lundy group plans to continue meeting
cent from February through April, Another result of COVID has and Kheyyon Parker from their cu- in Crane Park, located across the
said Andrew Mees, communica- been people transitioning from em- linary start-up SoLo’s Food, which street from the Lab.
tions director at MSU. ployment at corporations to start- finished as runner-up in the 2020 Business owners interested in
But pivoting is one of the tenets ing their own businesses. edition of MSU’s annual pitch com- the pop-up or looking for support
of entrepreneurship, and Mont- “Montclair has a rich culture of petition, StartUp Montclair. Their should email entrepreneurs@
clair State has created a space for doers, thinkers, and innovators,” concept is to deliver affordable or- montclair.edu for more informa-
founders to create, reinvent, and said BID Executive Director Jason ganic food. tion.

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Thursday, June 25, 2020 COVID-19 and Montclair Page 9

Hitting the ground running

er.
Montclair retailers, “I just finished having a conversation with
restaurants adjusting to a family,” she said. “You know, they have been
quarantined… and they just needed to get out.”
first week of ‘new normal’ OPENED DOORS
Montclair retail stores seem to have hit the
BY ANDREW GARDA ground running, and in the case of Fleet Feet
garda@montclairlocal.news on Bloomfield Avenue, almost literally, as the
running shop saw an immediate uptick in busi-
Montclair saw things move a little closer to ness from the moment it reopened its doors. It’s
normal in the last week and a half as restaurants keeping the staff moving fast.
began to host outdoor dining and stores allowed “I would say it’s going well,” said Dawn Fab-
customers inside for the first time since March. bro, one of the owners of Fleet Feet Montclair.
Whereas some towns closed down streets “We’re doing it by appointment only, and we’ve
and offered free parking, Montclair had no such been booked solid.”
plans, something that frustrated local business Fabbro said there have been walk-ups, but
owners, many of whom vented about it during because they can only have nine people in the
the last council meeting. store, including staff, they have had to turn
But the township is beginning to respond, an- folks away, telling them they should get onto the
nouncing an Emergency Assistance Grant pro- store’s website and grab an appointment.
gram on Friday, June 19. The announcement said “We’re following safety protocols, and our
the funding, which will be awarded on a first- customers have been really positive,” Fabbro
come basis, totals $150,000 for township small said. Fleet Feet was doing curbside pickup be-
businesses. Businesses must have fewer than 25 fore last week, and prior to that had done deliv-
ANDREW GARDA/STAFF
employees, and not-for-profits are also eligible ery. Fabbro said people have been anxious for
for the $1,000 grants. Like the rest of the Vanillamore staff, Richard Magid the store to reopen.
Town officials also announced that free (father of owner/cook Risa Magid Boyer) is adjusting Beyond social distancing and limiting the
to giving customers the personal touch while wearing
15-minute parking at meters will continue, 2020 masks and gloves.
number of people in the store, Fabbro said the
sidewalk café fees will be waived or refunded, staff has been wearing masks and gloves and
and a plan is being examined on how to best making sure customers wear masks as well.
close streets to create additional outdoor space tionships,” Boyer said. “Having those personal They also handle all the products themselves,
for diners. connections is the core of who we are and what I so that the number of people who touch an item
love about owning a restaurant. So that has not remains low.
DINING DASH been easy just to reconcile.” Once the store closes, it’s cleaning time.
Risa Magid Boyer, owner and cook at Vanil- Part of that reconciling comes in the form of “We’re like following along behind people,
lamore on Bloomfield Avenue, was just getting food, though, and Vanillamore will focus on what cleaning things constantly,” she said. “A couple
used to street-side dining, which began on June diners like best: “making sure that the menu has of customers are still in the store [right now].
15, when Gov. Phil Murphy sprung the news that the things that people have been missing.” We were just all laughing, saying that we’ve nev-
restaurants would be able to open up indoor Café Moso’s Zina Floyd is pleased about final- er cleaned so much in all of our lives.”
seating on July 2. ly adding outdoor dining. While not quite as busy, East Side Mags on
Boyer’s restaurant reopened over Father’s “I’m just happy that we can open,” Floyd said. South Fullerton Avenue in downtown Montclair
Day weekend, but she said the key to inside din- The South End eatery did well in the first week has seen customers return immediately as well,
ing is the same as it is for outside. of outdoor dining. said owner Jeff Beck.
“We are limiting it, just to have a lot of con- “We’re able to seat about 16 people outside, Business during the first week was steady, ac-
trol over it,” she said. “We have obviously lim- and it’s been doing well,” she said. “People have cording to Beck, and it feels nearer to normal.
ited space and prix-fixe menus and all of those been making reservations, the flow is good, and A comic book store is all about the tactile
things, regardless of whether it’s indoor or out- takeout has stayed consistent. So, we’re getting experience of picking up and flipping through
door.” business from both now.” publications, but Beck said that customers have
Along with table spacing, the restaurant is With outdoor seating a reality and indoor had no problem handling something someone
reservations-only, and hours are limited to din- seating on the horizon, Floyd has also changed else has just held. If anyone feels concerned,
ner from Thursday to Saturday, brunch Satur- the restaurant’s hours, opening back up noon Beck has an ample supply of gloves for those
day and Sunday, and occasional “dessert only” to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon who need them, and masks to buy as well.
time slots. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For now, Café Moso will not He also invested in floor stickers with the
All staffers help control the flow of custom- be hosting its well-loved brunches, but Floyd is store logo to promote social distancing.
ers to meet the COVID-19 guidelines. hoping to do so again in the fall. Right now restaurants specifically and busi-
Boyer said the restaurant has been focusing Like most restaurants in Montclair, Café nesses in general are benefiting from loosen-
on reaching its core customers, the ones who Moso is allowing customers to order from ing restrictions, but while this makes Floyd
have signed up for newsletters or follow the their phones rather than dealing with physical optimistic, she also cautions that it’s too early
restaurant on social media. People are looking menus. Customers are given disposable cutlery to know the long-term impact of COVID or re-
for comfort and familiarity, she said, and that’s as well. opening the state.
been something Vanillamore has tried to pro- “[The state] said only 25-percent capacity, “You’re going to need a few months,” she
vide since it opened. so we’re only going to set up as many tables as said. “Right now you’re going to get an influx
The oddity of being waited on by staff don- we’re allowed inside,” she said. “Our capacity is because people want to be out. So you’ll have a
ning masks and gloves is something all have had about 50 people inside, so we’ll probably have peak in business, and we’re hoping that the peak
to overcome in the “new normal.” seating for about 20.” continues to flow in that direction. But I would
“It’s honestly quite heartbreaking, because Floyd said a lot of her initial customers have imagine that we would need to see the next 90
we’ve built our brand with an open kitchen, just been excited to be outside the house, create days to determine if that then drops significant-
you know, a very friendly staff, building rela- some normalcy and try to enjoy the nicer weath- ly once people get their eating-out fix.”
 Opinion
Page 10 Thursday, June 25, 2020
Make your voice heard! Facebook.com/MontclairLocal
>>> letters@montclairlocal.news Twitter: @MontclairLocal

T OWN S QUARE
A movement, not a moment:
District must listen to Black students
BY GENESIS WHITLOCK We need support from our teachers
Special to Montclair Local and administrations, and in order to
support us, they have to understand
Genesis Whitlock is a student activist who we are. That is why it’s so crucial
and organizer and a rising senior at for training throughout the district
Montclair High School. Whitlock is the to be implemented.
President of the NAACP Youth Council
and the newly elected Student Coalition A cultural shift, led by
President of MHS. the district. Students are now
constantly engaging in discussions
As the school year begins to wind about racism and we are learning
down, students have had more time from each other as much as we can
to reflect on everything that’s been but, “Institutional racism is not a
going on within these past few weeks black issue that everyone else needs
related to the Black Lives Matter to empathize with, it is a structural
movement. Now more than ever, issue that affects everyone from the
students are engaged to the point top down so it is all our responsibil-
where no voice will go unheard. ity to actively engage in discussions
“This year y’all asked for 2020 vision to address it.”
and got 400 years of oppression These discussions should be
displayed in a way that cannot be hosted by the district, because every
denied.” issue that stems from institutional
Students understand that the racism impacts us all in one way
current protests are not about the or another. Every parent should be
murder of one man. As we grieve, informed on what the achievement
KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
we are questioning why these unjust gap is because it impacts us all in
murders continue to happen. The Marchers hold up signs at the June 7 Black Lives Matter Unity Walk, which was orga- one way or another. Every student
nized by Montclair High School students.
answer is institutional racism, should be concerned about a bus not
and being able to acknowledge being sent to the South End because
that it exists in Montclair is power. South End. Board of Ed members accountable it affects us all in one way or another.
The power and commitment to • Dismantle the Eurocentric when necessary. The Board has An injustice to one is an injustice
justice I’ve witnessed from students curriculum. committed to having our demands to all, anywhere and everywhere. A
throughout the past few weeks • Provide mandatory training be the framework of what Montclair call to end these injustices needs to
confirms that this energy will be within the school district on both High School will look like for the be led by the district.
harnessed into the school year. We race and culture. next 5 years and I am overjoyed by
are supporting, organizing and • Create a safe space in schools this commitment. The responsibility By speaking out against injustice
learning from each other so that this for BIPOC to express themselves. will no longer be on the students to throughout the years, many students
is not a moment, but a movement. advocate for justice but it will be a have looked to me for answers but
Here are some ways the district can Our demands are just the first community effort that is led by the I have to be honest: I am only one
support students advocating for steps to addressing institutional district. young black woman with my one
equity and justice: racism within the education system perspective and my one voice. In
in Montclair. After speaking with Training throughout the order for the district to address the
Adhere to our demands. the Board of Education on June 15 district. To emphasize that point, institutional racism that exists in
Earlier this month, I organized the and receiving their full support, we students would love to see training our town, we must include as many
Unity Walk alongside 17 other Mont- felt that it was necessary to ask the on both race and culture (which voices and perspectives of black
clair High School students, with the question, “Could it be possible that are two different things) amongst individuals as possible. There is so
help of more than 50 volunteers. An our demands are already a part of teachers and administrators much that still needs to be said, so I
estimated 6,000 people attended and Montclair Public School policy but throughout the district. At the Unity wish everyone reading the love and
marched for five miles, uptown and are not being adhered to?” Walk, students got an opportunity liberation needed to hear us and
downtown, calling for the destruc- In short, the answer was yes. to anonymously share their experi- fight alongside us.
tion of institutional racism within I appreciate the Board of Edu- ences with racism at Montclair High Continue to listen to black
the education system. Some of our cation’s transparency and have no School. students, let our voices guide your
demands are as follows: doubt that now that students will The responsibility should not be actions as we make progress within
• Implement integrated learning. have representation on the Board on the students to navigate these this movement, together as a
• Provide bus service to the next year, we will continue to hold difficult situations on their own. community.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Opinion Page 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

State must require all place using lessons from the May declared state of emergency, and, if Sound off!
votes be counted 12 elections, to ensure an equitable they have already furloughed or laid
process for the May 12 elections, off workers, make a best-effort pledge Montclair Local’s ‘Letters To The Edi-
The decision reached last week requiring that all votes cast with the to rehire them as soon as possible. tor’ section is an open forum for read-
between the League of Women expectation that the ballots would be Grant recipients are expected to ers to discuss town matters, articles
Voters, NAACP and Secretary Way, counted must be counted. retain all receipts and documents per- published in Montclair Local, or other
which established a notice-and-cure When in doubt about the status taining to the grant for 12 years! Even letters to the editor. Views expressed
and published in this section are solely
process for mail-in and provisional of votes cast, New Jersey must err on the IRS only expects people to hold those of the writers, and do not repre-
ballots in New Jersey’s July 7 primary the side of participatory democracy onto paperwork for seven. This grant sent those of Montclair Local.
election, is tremendous news for New and the voters. This equitable is another example of a small, not
Jersey voters who will vote in the action would make whole the 1,086 very helpful gesture, burdened with Letters on any subject can be e-mailed
election. Montclair voters whose votes were unnecessary requirements, painted to to letters@montclairlocal.news, or
mailed and addressed to “Letters To
As with the other ex-post-facto not counted, as well as those whose make the council look good. The Editor,” 309 Orange Road, Mont-
adjustments Gov. Murphy has votes were not counted in other May Surrounding towns and cities all clair NJ, 07042. All submissions must in-
ordered to remedy the flawed vote- 12 elections. It would position the over the world have come up with clude name, address, and phone num-
by-mail-only process that was used state of New Jersey as a gold standard creative solutions to allow more ber for verification. Letters must be
in the May 12 Montclair municipal bearer in our evolving democracy, for space for pedestrians and bikes so received by 5 p.m. Monday to be pub-
lished in Thursday’s paper. Only the let-
elections and others, this is a welcome such times as these. that people can keep a safe distance ter-writer’s name and town of residence
next step moving the state toward RENÉE BASKERVILLE, M.D. as they navigate the streets. Bike/ will be published. Letters may be edited
having in place an elections process Montclair Walk Montclair has submitted a by Montclair Local for style and length.
that will ensure that every vote cast The author is the current Fourth Ward number of suggestions, and all we see While our goal is to publish all letters
will be fully and fairly counted. councilor and was a candidate in the May is nothing. Sean Spiller is concerned we receive, we reserves the right to not
publish letters for any reason.
The unfortunate matter is that mayoral election. about paying for this and “policing.”
roughly 1,086 Montclair voters Setting up a barrier at the entrances to ‘Town Square’ is our space for longer-
risked their comfort — and in some Council should take Church Street and Park Street would form essays by residents designed to
generate discussion on specific topics
instances their health — to exercise cost literally nothing and would
what is for them and so many others action to aid businesses create a pedestrian zone. The country, affecting the town. Topics and submis-
sions should be emailed for approval
the most important right in this I recently wrote to outgoing and indeed the world, has had more than at least one week in advance of pub-
democracy, the right to vote, and incoming elected representatives of enough of policing. This was not a lication.
more particularly, the right to vote Montclair with a request for action to sensitive or useful response at all.
unfettered and have your vote count. support local businesses in, and the Small business owners are on the
I urge and encourage Gov. Murphy to people of, Montclair. very edge of extinction. Restaurants We are all in this for the long
consider taking his remedial action Shortly after this letter was sent have reopened with such limited haul. Montclair needs to get with the
one step further. the town launched its local business capacity that they will be mostly program and make prompt, nimble,
The proposed action does nothing recovery plan. While some of the operating at a loss. It is not the time and creative changes for our brave
to give back to the voters who were letter’s concerns are addressed, the to talk about the cost to the town new world. Thus far most of the
not counted in the May 12 elections thrust of it has not been. I do not see of doing whatever it takes to make heavy lifting has been done by local
their most prized right, their vote. the energy, imagination, and urgency Montclair safely navigable for nonprofits; it’s way beyond time the
In Montclair, more than 400 voters needed to help support the citizens residents and visitors. It is and should town stepped up.
had their vote denied due to signature and businesses of Montclair. be recognized as part of the social MELINA MACALL
flaws. Hundreds of others had their Surrounding towns have all contract a town has to its inhabitants. Montclair
vote denied due to the failure of the worked to support local businesses The public pools remain closed
post office to put its stamp on ballots, with changing outdoor seating and with no information about if, when, Support our hurting
and others still were denied the parking fees. Until recently, we’ve or how they will reopen. Meanwhile
franchise because of the early closure heard nothing from Montclair except the private pool clubs have reopened. restaurants
of some of the post offices the last for comments from Mayor Jackson The town needs to have a clear On Father’s Day, our family
two days of the election, and the strict on revenues from parking. To call this directive on whether or not pools celebration included picking up a full
adherence to the 48-hour rule, when an insensitive response would be an should be open, not one rule for those dinner from Corso 98. I asked Corso
the post office suggested that COVID- understatement. This to people who who can afford private membership 98’s co-owner (with his wife Lisa) Elio
19 made it impossible for them to are holding on by a thread to their and another for the users of the Suriano about the rumor that they
meet standard service times. businesses, which draw people to live, public pools. Either Montclair deems were going out of business.
I urge Gov. Murphy to take work, shop, and eat in Montclair! A it safe to swim or not. He acknowledged that the last 3½
executive action to give back the most promise to “work to close streets to As always, communication from months have been extremely hard,
powerful weapon in our participatory create additional outdoor space for the town council is missing. Why does as he had to lay off his wait staff, put
democracy to those who voted in the patrons” is just not good enough. the council not share regular updates their building on the market, and was
May 12 election fully expecting that The township grant funding for with those who live here? There is still considering all options.
their votes would be counted, only businesses of $150,000 is, frankly, an abundance of social media, local Corso 98 has been at 98 Walnut St.
to learn after the result was certified pathetic. Mayor Jackson said “I know press and, of course, the town website since 1997 and like other Montclair
that untrained signature-reviewing of no other New Jersey municipality available. To highlight this, the free restaurants has innovated and
officials rejected their ballots because that has offered grant funding to its 15-minute metered parking was not invested by setting up outdoor tables,
they thought the signature did not businesses for recovery purposes.” widely shared information. You’d but on Father’s Day they were all
match an earlier one. While this might be the case, a think we could have had some signage empty!
In the spirit of thanksgiving for grant of $1,000 is not going to make on the streets to let people know, but Now is the time to show our
what Gov. Murphy and Secretary a whole lot of difference for many zip, nada, nothing. support — at Corso 98 and the
Way have done and are continuing businesses. It certainly doesn’t justify The only elected representatives many other wonderful Montclair
to do to right the voting process for asking applicants to certify that they who responded to my letter were restaurants — by making the most of
the July 7 elections, I humbly request will make their best effort not to Renee Baskerville and Bob Russo. the summer weather to safely dine al
that the governor issue an executive furlough or lay off any individuals While I appreciated them replying, fresco.
order consistent with the broad and from the time of application through there was nothing concrete or HAL STRELNICK
equitable measures he has put in six months after the end of the substantive in their responses. Montclair
Page 12 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Dear Montclair Locals,

Our reporter, Jaimie Julia Winters, received a 1st place award
from the NJ Society of Professional Journalists for her tireless
reporting on Lackawanna Plaza. The judges' comments say it
all:
"This is what community journalism is all about 
taking an issue and staying on top of it – meeting after meeting,
development after development, and in this case, a lawsuit."
Montclair is lucky to have an award-winning newsroom when
many towns are becoming "news deserts." Whether you read us
here or online, please become a Member today to help ensure
Montclair has a nonprofit newsroom.

Go to www.montclairlocal.news 
Click on "become a member"
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Anne Keys
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Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 13
Page 14 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

PROCESSION MUSIC

Solos become an ensemble

A special gift GRADUATION 2020
— WHAT’S INSIDE
to graduates
A double graduation
from Montclair for MHS .......................................................15

Orchestra Senior send-off,

in their own words ............................ 16
A song for the
BY ERIN ROLL Class of 2020 ....................................... 18
roll@montclairlocal.news
Farewell to longtime
SVPA tech director ..........................20
With graduations being dis-
Shout Out Montclair! ......................24
rupted for the Class of 2020, the
Montclair Orchestra put together a MKA’s Class of ‘20 ............................ 28
special parting gift for Montclair’s Lacordaire’s Class of ‘20.............30
high school students: a fully orches-
Immaculate’s Class of ‘20 ..........31
trated — but still socially distanced
— performance of Edward Elgar’s Senior sports superlatives...........32
“Pomp and Circumstance.” The Montclair
Forty-four musicians — from Scholarship Fund ..............................34
as near as Montclair and as far as
South Korea — recorded their in- COURTESY MONTCLAIR ORCHESTRA

dividual parts on video and submit- The Montclair Orchestra performs “Pomp and Circumstance” in this video released ers present and feeling the energy
ted them to the orchestra. All of the via the orchestra’s YouTube channel. The musicians recorded their parts separately, in the room, Moore said.
and each of those parts was spliced into the video.
submissions were then edited into A native of Pittsburgh, Moore is
one video, resulting in the sound of a rising junior at Juilliard and plays
a full orchestra. ing their separate parts, which were the same way. viola for the Montclair Orchestra.
The video is available for viewing then compiled in one video. “Pomp and Circumstance” is ac- He became involved with the or-
on the orchestra’s YouTube channel. The Metropolitan Opera did a tually the first of six marches of chestra after playing in a student
“With music of any kind, your similar project for its At-Home that title composed by Elgar. It is competition.
goal is to connect Gala in April, with all of the mem- officially known as the “Pomp and “Of course, I was 100 percent
with an audience,” bers of the opera’s orchestra and Circumstance March No. 1 in D, Op. onboard with being able to partici-
said David Chan, chorus performing separately from 39,” composed in 1901. pate,” he said when he heard about
the orchestra’s their homes. In 1905, it was used for gradua- the “Pomp and Circumstance” proj-
musical director. In Montclair, the Jazz House Kids tion ceremonies at Yale. Since that ect.
The COVID-19 presented a virtual performance of time, it has been a regular feature at Moore practiced with the record-
pandemic has hit the 75-member Alumni Super Band high school and college graduations ing a few times before committing
the performing on June 19. in North America. his performance to video.
DAVID arts particularly “We’re all trying to adjust to this The Montclair Orchestra video “The musicians were surprised
CHAN hard, with Broad- new digital norm,” said Montclair lasts for four minutes and 22 sec- and … really impressed it came to-
way shuttered until Orchestra violinist Aurora Men- onds; making it, from start to fin- gether and still sounded like an or-
at least Sept. 6 and opera companies dez, a graduate of Montclair State ish, took between 3½ weeks and one chestra,” he said.
and orchestras postponing the start University’s Cali School of Music. month. Mendez said, “I think that we
of their new seasons until next year. “Musicians have finally embraced First, the orchestra had to send were pleasantly surprised at how
On June 10, the New York Philhar- the ‘evil’ digital nemesis to live per- an email to all of the musicians, together it was” and noted that the
monic announced it would not re- formances.” asking if they wished to participate. string section members were all
sume performances until January Some musicians might see vid- There were a few who could not, for using a similar bowing technique.
2021, and the Metropolitan Opera eos as a threat to live performances, various reasons, but 44, including When asked about the emotional
has likewise postponed its reopen- Mendez said; “I see it as an oppor- Chan, were able to join in. response to the video, she said: “My
ing. tunity.” Each musician received a re- initial reaction was, oh, how I miss
“For classical music at large, it’s Chan said the Montclair Orches- hearsal track of the score, instruc- playing with this amazing group of
a very tough situation,” Chan said. tra had been brainstorming ways tions on how to record video, and a musicians. I miss that magic … it’s
Live music and theatrical perfor- to reach out to its audience, and to video of Chan conducting the piece. kind of like a master class.”
mances are expected to be included send a message similar to what oth- Some of the musicians had to Both Moore and Mendez said the
in phase four of New Jersey’s re- er artistic groups have been doing double: For example, the wood- response from viewers was over-
opening process, along with events — paying tribute to first respond- winds and bassoonists had to dou- whelmingly positive.
at sports stadiums. ers, teachers, and other groups ble on the first and second parts for “We got a lot of shares and likes,”
For orchestras, which rely heav- during the pandemic. their sections. Chan doubled on the Moore said, adding that he hoped a
ily on live performances, the pan- He thought of his own high violin. lot of the graduates would enjoy it.
demic has necessitated a search for school and college graduations. Playing music alone, to a record- Mendez got congratulatory notes
new ways of connecting with lis- “Those were, I’m sure for my par- ing, is a very different experience from many colleagues, includ-
teners. ents, they were super-milestones in from playing with other musicians ing people she hadn’t spoken to in
In April, the National Orchestra my life,” he said. The students of the physically present. “It’s a new idea years.
of France released a four-minute Class of 2020, who had been look- of what making music is,” said vio- “When there’s passion and love
arrangement of Ravel’s “Bolero,” ing forward to those milestones, list Devin Moore. Musicians are at- behind a project, it’s going to turn
with all of the musicians record- won’t be able to experience them in tuned to collaborating with the oth- out really well,” she said.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 15

MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL

Double dip
Students get to celebrate at
virtual, in-person graduations
BY ERIN ROLL
roll@montclairlocal.news

Montclair High School held a

virtual graduation ceremony for
the Class of 2020 Wednesday
night, June 24, as the first of two
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On July 9, the high school will
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parents. FILE PHOTO

The June 24 ceremony was live- Montclair High will host three outdoor
streamed for graduates and their graduation ceremonies July 9.
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“We encourage you to gather as
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traditional graduation ceremony. Each will have 150 graduates, 300
This is a joyous occasion for the guests, 50 teachers, and emergen-
305 Broad St., Bloomfield • 973-748-7300
Class of 2020,” school officials cy personnel. 727 Belleville Avenue, Belleville • 973-759-5959
said. In May, Murphy said that larg-
If families took any photos of er high schools should expect to
themselves during the ceremony, hold more than one ceremony in
they are invited to send one or two order to accommodate all of the
photos, with a caption, to the dis- graduates and their guests. Mont-
trict, to be posted on the district clair High’s senior classes typical-
website. Photos should be sent to ly have more than 500 students in
Jennifer Fusco, the district’s in-
formation secretary, at jfusco@
a given year.
The ceremonies will take place
PROUDLY CONGRATULATES
montclair.k12.nj.us. at 10 a.m. , 2 p.m. , and 6 p.m.

c l a i r G r a d ua t e s
June 24 is the date that Mont- Graduates will be assigned to a
clair High School’s graduation
ceremony would have taken place
particular time slot based on the
first letter of their last name. m o n t
CLASS OF 2020
on a normal schedule, either at Guest couples will be seated in
the school’s amphitheater or at “boxes” on the bleachers based on
another location designated by the location of their graduate's
the school. placement on the field.
Montclair announced in May “Montclair High School will
that a virtual celebration was be- provide more information about
ing planned, since at the time tickets and entry requirements
state guidelines prohibiting large as we move closer to the date of
gatherings were in effect. How- the ceremony. We thank you for
ever, in a survey sent to students your understanding and patience
and families, a large number of during this time of uncertainty
students said they were in favor and we look forward to celebrat-
of having an in-person ceremony ing with our graduates and fam-
at a later date, once it was safe to ilies,” Principal Anthony Grosso
do so. said in the letter.
The arrangements for the vir- The letter also included a link
tual celebration were being made to a handbook of graduation pro-
prior to Gov. Phil Murphy’s an- cedures and protocols, including
nouncement in May that high guidelines on seating, instructions
schools could have modified on where graduates should walk,
in-person celebrations after July and information on restricted ac-
6. tivities, including giving gifts and
flowers, taking photographs after 233 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair
IN-PERSON CEREMONIES the ceremony, or throwing beach www.fredericsfinejewelers.com | 973.744.0400
MHS will have three in-person balls around during the ceremony.
Page 16 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 17
Page 18 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

MUSIC

‘We love you. We wish you well.’

Lily Vakili Band feel, but that was all the videogra-
pher: Nothing was taken directly
uses footage of from the yearbook.
“I love the fact that it’s this great
MHS seniors, mix of casual and formal, really
serious and goofing around. It was
town in video really emotional to look at these
faces,” Vakili said.
Fortunately the band had re-
BY GWEN OREL corded themselves singing “We
orel@montclairlocal.news Got Dreams” before lockdown
happened, so the video is able to
“We Got Dreams” is a great title include clips of the band inter-
for a song about high school com- spersed with footage of the town
mencement. and pictures of the seniors.
What is in store for the future? The Lily Vakili Band has been
What dreams are waiting to be together for about six years. She
pursued? was working as a solo artist before
But when Montclairian Lily Va- that.
kili wrote the song, she was not The song lyrics always had a
planning on using it to reflect her sense of possibility in them even
daughter Claire Ellis’ senior high though they were written about
COURTESY LILY VAKILI
school class. adults in hard times.
The lyrics are in a Bruce Spring- Lily Vakili, center, sings with her band. “Having lived through some
steen vein and reflect despair, hard hard times myself, I know that it
times, resilience. said. “She said, ‘Just normal would their lives. doesn’t always end well for people,
have been great.’ They reached out to parents, to and that people go through hard
Jenny works at the corner store “Just normal would have been Project Graduation. It came to- times,” Vakili said. But though the
Making nothing but hoping for great. gether in three weeks. lyrics are dark, the song itself has
more “Forget all the aspirations for The music video was released a catchy melody and a hopeful feel-
Saves her pennies for a home of prom, blah blah. Just normal.” on Friday, June 12. It can be seen ing in it. The message, she said, is
her own The Lily Vakili Band had planned at Lily Vakili’s YouTube, at tinyurl. to hold on.
Maybe a double-wide with its to release the song anyway as the com/yca8vqx9. “A lot of my songs have this el-
own carport … first single from “American Story- In titles before the music starts, ement of realism,” she said. “It’s
She got dreams and she won’t let land.” it states, “For students everywhere, about looking at peoples’ lives and
go She thought, the kids are “going including the senior class of Mont- not sugarcoating what people ex-
No matter how many times people through something transforma- clair High School. It also meant the perience.
tell her so tional that none of us have lived loss of a long-awaited shared cele- “But that doesn’t mean that in-
Her life is hard times on a broken through. bration. This song is for you.” dividuals don’t have this deep de-
door “Some of them have lost family The video begins with the sire to express themselves and to
But she sings members. Claire lost a great-uncle. sound of a class bell, the sound have dreams. I think maybe at this
Nah,nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, So some of the things I was singing of kids laughing. There is a still juncture, given what we’re going
nah, nah about in the song applied to some of the members of the Lily Vakili through, it’s critical to say ‘Don’t
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah of these kids, I know it.” Band, arranged as if they are in an let go. Keep doing this. Keep on.’
Vakili talked to the other mem- old-fashioned class portrait. You know, even if you lose that
Then COVID-19 happened. bers of the band, and everyone Then comes footage of the am- job.”
The schools closed. agreed to create a video that would phitheater at Montclair High Her daughter has seen the video.
Proms were canceled. include the seniors in it, to create School, with a sign that says She loved it. Vakili can tell, be-
“My daughter said that she and a public place, a statement, to ac- “Montclair Public Schools closed.” cause her daughter said, “Yeah,
her friends felt invisible,” Vakili knowledge them at this point in The song begins, and footage of yeah. That was good.”
Montclair is interspersed with the That’s high praise, Vakili said
band singing. Shots of empty bike with a laugh.
racks, empty train stations, people The video ends with the words
LEROY If the wearing masks. Montclair streets. “We got dreams,” printed in varsi-
HAYES Shoe Fits Stores with signs that say “Closed ty letter font, and a title card that
REPAIR
“the Best to the public.” says “Class of 2020! Hold on to
Cobbler Vakili wanted to make sure there your dreams — pursue them with
in NJ” IT! was a representative group of kids, compassion, resilience and integ-
that the video would be a snapshot rity. Love from all of us.”
of the MHS seniors. Vakili wanted to capture what
The videographer got footage the kids were feeling: “It’s one
from the high school. From the small part of many efforts to try to
amphitheater, where they would acknowledge them, as they make
CEDAR GROVE BOOTERY have graduated. Some yearbook
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Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 19

Project Graduation is in Its remarkable 31st year.

From its beginning, PG has been a parent-led huge celebration that is drug and alcohol free for all
seniors. The celebration begins the moment the graduation ceremony is over. The seniors are
loaded onto buses and paraded through town while Montclarians rally to cheer them all
along the route. Gathering on lawns and in front of elementary and middle schools,
families and neighbors armed with noisemakers, signs and cameras do their part in
sending off the graduates in this beloved tradition. The events of 2020 have put a tem-
porary hold on this celebration. We will wait until the time is right so we can safely celebrate
the Graduates with all the pomp and circumstance that this class deserves.

It is with great pride and admiration that we have the privilege of celebrating our Montclair
High School Class of 2020 Graduates. It goes without saying that these students have met
the challenge of completing their Senior Year with confidence and grace amidst a time of
great unprecedented crisis. So many things have been lost forever. From Senior Option to Prom, final sports seasons, concerts and
senior days, to walking the halls knowing that it was actually ‘the last time’, among many other moments that seniors are otherwise
guaranteed. We, as Project Graduation 2020, will indeed celebrate these graduates properly once the world safely allows.

As the Steering Committee for Project Graduation 2020, we would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation
for all the dedicated and generous Chair People, Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors that have made this Project Graduation 2020
possible. We are humbled and in awe of the unbridled enthusiasm, talent, support and efforts of this year’s team and the volunteer
armies they led.

We thank these Champion Chairpeople who dedicated themselves to successfully creating remarkable events and fundraisers:
LaTascha Foster, Elizabeth Estevez, Jody Bronner, Aviva Patz, Liz Uva, Carla Greengrass, Deirdre Graham, Lynn Carhart, Michelle
Lepak, Dan Roberts, Ann Bismal, Dorothy Rolling and Scott Frank.

We also thank these amazing and tireless volunteers that moved mountains with mad skills and endless energy, and we are equally
grateful for their efforts along with our deepest gratitude to these most generous people and businesses who donated services,
performances and sponsorship:

Andrea DelleChiaie & Risa Wexler, Dorothy & Mark Rolling, Rick Festa, Jill Edinburg, Jessica Stolzberg, Silvana Ceron, Wendy & An-
drew Lacey, Susan & Rich Murnick, Christine Agnello, Blythe Eaman, Lynn Carhart, Denise Ford Sawadogo, Shannon Gibson,
Lisa Gomberg, Deirdre Graham, Erika Insana, Cyndi Owgang, Deb Pirkle, Lauren Rosen, Lisa Russman, Susan Sonneborn, Matt
Davis, Blanca Rodriguez, Liz Egan, Julie Skibniewski, Karen Gorman, Maureen Olhmeuller, Marvene Spencer, Gary & Lisa Adams,
Lorraine Agostinelli, Kanchi & Mark Bordick, Fabiola Campbell, Luisa Esposito, Regan Froman Gross, Christine Hsieh, Marcia Podvey,
LaTasha Foster, Leslie Masuzzo, Monica Minore, Karen Novak, Glenn Rombough, Dianne & Frank Garland, Emilie Gustavsen, Mary
Anne Vaughn, Marquetta Alexander, Julie Lawrence Edsell , Passing Notes, Eileen Kelly, Darryle Abrahams, Bobbi Brown-Evolution
18, Chelsea Square Montclair, Eric Salon, Essay House, Gotham Comedy Club, Imperial Nails, Palazzo Restaurant, Pink Bungalow,
The General Store at Cornerstone Montclair, Bareburger, The Max Challenge of Montclair, Montclair Film, Salon Mosaic, Theramu
CBD, Watchung Booksellers, Woodhouse Day Spa, 18 Label, Brooklyn Brewery, Misunderstood Whiskey, Sharon Sevrins-Amanti
Vino, Ironbound Cider, Stanton Co-Miller Graham, WH Connolly, Jim McDonal, Esq, Jim Ashenfelter, Esq, Murnick Financial Group,
Citizens Bank, The Tutor Shack, Tierney’s Tavern, Run Around Melissa, Scott Novak, New and Karfunkel, Esq, Montclair Music, TD
Bank, KRB Pest, Zara Phillips, Matthew Davis, Sock Monster, Hey Honeys, Lily Vakili Band, Outpost In the Burbs, Montclair Brewery,
Alma Schnieder and the No Rehearsals, Alex Leale Designs, Bobbi Brown & Steve Plofker, Brendan McCarty, Caitlin DiRuggiero-
Corefire, Cathy Goodman, David Derrick, Dayna & Andy Bandman, Jackie Mroz-Montclair Literary Festival, Jared Trout-AE Fitness,
Jennifer Levine, Joy Glenn Photography, Kanan Kapila, Kathe Roberts-Top To Bottom, Liz Hughes-Sedona Fitness, Mark Bordick-
MB Auto Group, Maureen Defilippo, Michael Stahl Photography, Patti Safian-NJ Wellness, Regan Forman, Rob McDonals, Sacha
Raeburn, Sarah Barrack-Montclair Film Festival, Sima Branson, Yvonne Hetrich-Steven Colbert, Watchung Deli, Sally Ross Home
Design, Gikas Painting, Watts Up Electric, John Heyrich Plumbing, Chris Meets, Faubourg, Salute, The Crosby, Samba Montclair,
Blue Morel, Jeff Chanin, Julie Jaskiewicz, Sharon & Danny DePasquale, Meg & Harry Temkin, Tim & Fannie Gray, Johanna Foster,
Carol & Christopher Lippincott, John & Janne Kaminski, Eric Sears, Maria Menendez & Johnathan Law, The Vaughn Family, Belinda
Edmondson, Debbie Schapiro, Lisa Kolton, Roger Karapin, United Methodist Women, St Mark’s United Methodist Church, Heather
Rosser, Carrie & Alan Holtz, Kathleen Devlin & Thomas McLoughlin, Rachel Kanter & Andy Ely, Erika Munter, Deirdre and Garrett
Ogden, Frank & Patricia Schramm, Valerie Thomas, Lance & Marilyn LaVergne, Anthony Ward, Cornerstone Montclair-Wendy Lacey,
Leah Leatherbee, Janet Immermann, Russo Bros & Co, Keria Boertzet Smith, Achi Dosanjh, Joseph C DeLuca, Dayna Bandman,
Greg Bryan, Anne M Sailer, Pamela L Firestone, Leeta L Jordan, MHS PG INC and all the Montclair High School Administration,
Security and Custodial Staff.

Congratulations Class Of 2020!

Erika Insana & Shannon GIbson
Page 20 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

SVPA

Beloved mentor exits the stage

Tech director Ken Cleerdin
retires from Montclair High
BY GWEN OREL in N.Y.C.; sound designer Charles
orel@montclairlocal.news Coes.
Cleerdin, say current and former
“Ken Cleerdin is the reason I’m in the- students, expected them to rise to a
ater.” —Malachy Kronberg challenge, and they did.
Watching students bloom is the
Ken Cleerdin, technical director thing that fills him with the most
of Montclair High’s School of Visu- pride.
al and Performing Arts, as well as an “Basically they come in as novic-
art teacher, is retiring this year. es, not knowing a lot. The way I have
But his legacy continues. the organization set up is I’m there,
Malachy Kronberg, associate au- and I can teach, and I can guide, and
dio supervisor at The Public Theater I mentor. But basically, the students,
in New York City, says it that direct- the seniors and the juniors, teach
ly. the sophomores and the freshmen.
Former students of Cleerdin’s That’s the way it goes. And that’s
are designers and stagehands on how we keep it going,” he said.
Broadway, at Lincoln Center, at The In “She Kills Monsters,” by Qui
Public Theater, are union reps. Nguyen, an SVPA drama present-
Among them: Jackie Young, tech- ed in January and February, techies
nical director for Two River Theater took front and center.
COURTES LIANNE SCHOENWIESNER SPOTLIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY
in Red Bank; Matt Walsh, Broadway The show is set partly in a Dun-
Ken Cleerdin works with Amiri Bradley, a freshman in this 2012 photo. Bradley was stagehand; Daryl Shelton, tech-
co-head of tech in his senior year.
nical director for the IRT Theater See CLEERDIN, page 22

ALWAYS Saluting Our Superb

Local High School Graduates
REMEMBER
Belleville HS Mt. St Dominic HS
YOU
ARE BRAVER Bloomfield HS
Columbia HS
Montclair HS
Montclair Kimberley Academy
THAN YOU BELIEVE East Orange HS Newark Academy
Glen Ridge HS Nutley HS
STRONGER Golda Och Academy Orange HS
Immaculate Conception HS Passaic Valley HS
THAN YOU SEEM James Caldwell HS Seton Hall Prep
Lacordaire Academy Verona HS
SMARTER Livingston HS
Millburn HS
West Essex Regional HS
West Orange HS
THAN YOU THINK

& LOVED
237 Lorraine Avenue
Upper Montclair, NJ
MORE THAN 973.783.7400
www.KWMetroGroup.com
YOU KNOW “Celebrating the power of education.”
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 21

NOW
• Curbside return and pickup of
materials
• Library buildings remain closed to
the public
• Our digital library is available 24/7:
We’ve missed you! - eBooks and eAudiobooks
- Streaming movies and music
- Virtual classes and programs
The Library looks forward - Online research materials
to offering more in-person - Library card applications
services as restrictions ease.
Visit montclairlibrary.org
for the latest updates and
schedule. NEXT
• The Main Library will open
Health and safety are our top for limited in-person usage
• Appointments will be
priority. Face coverings and required for browsing and
social distancing are required. reference assistance
Capacity monitoring, • Studying and computer
usage not yet allowed
quarantining of materials, and
frequent cleaning continue.
THEN
• Appointments expanded to
include studying and computer
Main Library usage
50 S. Fullerton Avenue • Expanded hours and services
Montclair, NJ 07042 at the Main Library and
973-744-0500 | montclairlibrary.org Bellevue Avenue Branch
• Limited in-person programs
MontclairPublicLibrary MontclairLib
Page 22 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Cleerdin in his 10th year at The Public Theater.

By giving older students responsibility for
mentoring younger ones, everyone ends up tak-
from page 20 ing the responsibilities seriously, Cleerdin said.
“If someone is goofing off, another kid will say
geons & Dragons fantasy realm. ‘Knock it off, we have a show to do,’” he said.
Ellie Carhart, a graduating senior and the Even such things as trusting students with
SVPA head of tech, played a “bugbear” in the power tools impressed Ian Dillingham, MHS
show. A Dungeons & Dragons player, she also 2017, now a student at Northwestern University
made a PDF about the game for cast and crew and, like Carhart, a former head of tech.
who didn’t play. “He was almost like a father figure to the tech
Carhart began doing tech work as a freshman, community,” Dillingham said.
and now she will be attending Rutgers’ Mason
Gross School of the Arts for set design this fall. THE PIED PIPER
“And I honestly wouldn’t be doing that if he Many people call the very tall, soft-spoken
hadn’t always pushed me to do the best work that Cleerdin the Pied Piper.
I could,” she said. He seems shy, not someone who comes into
a room and takes over; he is soft-spoken and a
EMPOWERING STUDENTS good listener, Pepper said.
“They felt so empowered. There was absolutely “Although, I’m told by the kids, when he’s call-
COURTESY LIANNE SCHOENWIESNER SPOTLIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY
no way that you didn’t continually notice how the ing in for final tech, he can bellow,” she said with
kids were just enamored with him,” said Brenda Aidan Kaplan and Helen Laser on the set of “Urine- a laugh.
town” in 2012.
Pepper, artistic director of SVPA, who began Dillingham remembers that he seemed an
working at MHS in 2008. imposing figure when he first met him: “He’s up-
Cleerdin has worked with SVPA in two dif- ed a community and space, and treated everyone wards of 6 feet. He has a moustache and goatee
ferent stints: The first time was in the late ’70s, like they were an adult and professional, capable combo reminiscent of Colonel Sanders. But then
when SVPA was SPA, the School of Performing of learning on their own, and achieving on their you meet him and find out he’s the nicest guy.”
Arts, with arts classwork held separately. Today, own.” Coes, who owns Charles Coes Sound De- There are rituals many students will miss.
SVPA is an after-school activity. He left in the sign and has worked at many regional theaters, Everyone shakes Cleerdin’s hand when they
mid-’80s, and returned in 1998. He had teaching earned an MFA in sound design at Yale. leave after a build or a run, Carhart said.
credentials for art and had been working in Brick Kronberg too was struck by Cleerdin’s attitude There are pre-show rituals among the tech
Township. During the ’70s and ’80s, he also built of empowerment. crew as well, where everyone goes outside and a
shows for many of the small theaters Off-Broad- “He taught me how to think through prob- story is repeated that includes the initials B.C. —
way, and had a business restoring old houses. lems, and the ability to do that is a skill that has
Sound designer Coes said that Cleerdin “creat- served me well to this day,” said Kronberg, who is See CLEERDIN, page 23

Congratulations Class of 2020!

FREE home delivery of the freshest organic produce
and meats straight from our farm every Wednesday.

Shop at ProfetaFarms.com
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 23

Cleerdin questions: “Are you proud of this?

Does seeing this make you happy?”
She was upset at having to leave
her design “in the hands of people
program he established has every
senior become a buddy to a fresh-
And if she answered “Not really,” he who aren’t me, because I usually man.
from page 22 would say, “Always be honest, be- would go around and check up on “I wasn’t a confident person,
cause that’s what’s important.” everything during every tech.” and tech really not only gave me a
Before Cleerdin. That’s unusual, in Pepper’s expe- Cleerdin told her she needed to community of people supporting
Another way Cleerdin recog- rience. “It wasn’t just ‘Oh, here’s the learn that her designs would go into me, but also, the first time I set-de-
nized the techies was that on every nuts and bolts of how we’re going to the hands of others. signed, I realized, I’m in charge
opening night, he put up a poster build something.’ He helped devel- When she returned she noticed of this and doing a good job, you
thanking them and offering words op that artistic side in the students.” some mistakes, and realized it was know?” Carhart said.
of encouragement. “We used to call Monique Baltzer, she recalled, okay. “It was a really good lesson for “He definitely taught me that
these ‘Cleerdins,’ and I looked for- was an “extraordinary artist.” When me,” she said. there’s a lot within myself, and that
ward to them every single show, SVPA performed “In the Heights,” Dillingham thought he would I shouldn’t go searching for lead-
even after I came back to work as a Baltzer painted a portrait of the ac- have to forego a fencing team cham- ership or guidance from others as
professional for SVPA and we were tress who played the grandmother. pionship for a performance, since much as I used to. In freshman and
peers,” Kronberg said. Baltzer also painted period-appro- he was head of tech. Instead, Cleer- sophomore year, I was very much a
And one quirk noted by many is priate graffiti on subway doors for a din told him, “What you’ve done follower. “But through the oppor-
that he proudly does not have a cell production of “Rent.” has gone above and beyond for this tunities and advice he gave me, he
phone. Developing as artists of the the- show. So if you need to miss one was saying ‘I know you can do this
So it is a challenge getting hold of ater is one of the main things Cleer- night of the performance, we’ve got even if it’s hard.’ It really changed
him on weekends, students said af- din taught. “I would say, ‘Go for the other people who can fill in for you. my entire track. I’ve fallen in love
fectionately. moon,’ you know, try to make it in- But you should know that you’ve al- with technical theater and become
teresting. Don’t try to make it like ready done a great job.” Dillingham confident in my ability to lead and
ARTISTIC SENSIBILITY everybody else’s set. This is the time joined his team. It didn’t win, but create.”
Cleerdin always made sure that a to do that,” he said. “that wasn’t the important part,” he And now she intends to make
design idea presented by a director said. “It was nice to be recognized.” theater her career.
could be executed safely, but also, A PLACE FOR TECHIES And a homey place for techies “I remember the first time I fig-
Carhart said, that there was a way to Part of what students learned was particularly important to stu- ured out I could do that,” Carhart
put some of her own ideas into the from Cleerdin is that while the show dents who might otherwise feel a said. A friend said she was going to
set. must go on, it can go on without little out of step, Coes said. Cleerdin study stage management. Carhart
“I also took AP art history with them — and life comes first. Car- created an empowering place “for a thought, “Oh my god, you can get a
him in junior year. And he really is hart’s grandmother died just before bunch of high school students who degree in theater.”
just so passionate about art, and all Tech Week, the week when actors were weird, and various in ideas and Soon, there will be another pro-
its forms,” she said. first work with the design onstage, backgrounds, and create a cohesive fessional Cleerdin alumna behind
He would push her by asking and cues and timing are finessed. experience.” A senior mentorship the scenes.

"While the circumstances of graduation may not be ideal, you will look back on this
event with the clarity of 20/20 vision and recognize it as a beautiful beginning to
where you are now." -Sterling K. Brown

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!
MONTCLAIR AMBULANCE UNIT
#MONTCLAIREMS MVAU.ORG #WENEVERCLOSE
Page 24 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Congratulations
Montclair
Class of 2020!
Joe Held Jacob Schmeltz
Montclair High School Montclair High School
Congratulations Joseph! CONGRATULATIONS
We are proud of you. JACOB SCHMELTZ!!! We can’t
Love, Mom, Dad, George, wait to see you change the world!
Margaret, William and Mr. Wiggles Love, Mom, Dad, Jonah & Olivia

Shawn Collins
Zaire Reed
Montclair High School
Buzz Aldrin
Congratulations Shawn! We wish
CONGRATS. YOU DID IT Zy!...
you much success as you advance to
May the memories you have made
an entirely new stage of life. Make and the good times that you knew
it count big time! We love you. be found in high school and
Always, Mom & Dad throughout your whole life, too!
Love Mom and Dad.

Laszlo Jakab Max Pursche

Montclair High School Montclair High School
Congratulations Laszlo––we are Max, I love you to the moon
beyond proud of what you’ve and back; you will always be my
Katie Higgins accomplished at MHS and excited to reason to be. Make every day
“safe and fun.” I’m so proud
Kamille
Carnegie Mellon University
share your experience at UVM!
to see the adult you’ve become. Richardson-Thomas
Way to go! Mom, Dad and Jet
Congratulations on your
Mom Montclair High School
hard-earned Tepper School of
Congratulations Kamille...
Business degree! You worked so
hard while playing all 4 years on We are very proud
the women’s b-ball team & Theta. of you. Keep up the good work.
We love you, Mom & Max From your entire family, love you.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 25

Congratulations
Montclair
Class of 2020!
Benj amin Pax Esser “Education is the most powerful weapon which
you can use to change the world.”-Nelson Mandela
Angel Gaines
Park Elementary Montclair High School
Benj amin Pax Esser movin’ on up
Reach for the Stars & Leave a
from 8t h grade to Arts High in the
fall, to study music. Thanks for not Little Sparkle Wherever You Go!
choosing the violin! C ongratulations & Love, GI GI
Love you forever and a day, Lola
Congratulations!
You did it & I am next!
Love, London

Never regret a day in your life:

good days give you happiness,
bad days give you experience,
Julian A. Perry Sydney Rosen worst days give you lessons,
and best days give you memories.
Watchung Elementary Montclair High School Love, Dad
Congratulations on your From your first day at Barrow St
5 th grade graduation, Julian! to your last day at MHS, your love Congratulations to my darling
Keep reaching for the stars! of learning, curiosity, and tenacity daughter. You have made us all
Tom Allen
I love you so muc h! Love Mommy have filled our heats with joy. proud. Continue your j ourney of
Homeschool X O!
education, it is life changing!
Love Y ou, Mommy
Congratulations Tom! So proud of
all your hard work & persistence.
Remember, ‘ little by little Congratulations Angel!
one travels far’. Stay Brilliant, Stay Bright,
Stay Woke! You are exactly what
Love always, Mum & Dad xo
law enforcement needs. You will
do great things in your future at
Rutgers and beyond!
Love, B ev, Derek, & Ava.

Congrats to my beautiful niece.

Angel, time goes by so fast! Best of
luck in all of your future endeavors!
Noah Sa’id F arj ani Holly Allen Much success to you.
Love and K isses, Aunt S herry ♥️
Montclair High School Montclair High School

You did it! We are so proud of Endured the hassles & earned that Congratulations Angel, your
the young man you have become. tassel! We are so proud of you! academic achievements will tak
Sadie Reynolds Creative, hardworking and the All the best on your you far at Rutgers-New Brunswick.
new adventures at RIT.
kindest person we know. The best is Remember God first!
Montclair High School yet to come! From, Mom & Dad Love always, Mum & Dad xo Shower of Blessings.
Love, U nc le C alvin & S abr ina
Sadie-leh, Congratulations! We are
so proud of you and excited for your
future, at Barnard and beyond.
We love you to the moon and back.
Love, Mommy and Daddy
Page 26 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Congratulations
Montclair
Class of 2020!
Arden Phillips “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment
Anna Gustavsen
before starting to improve the world.” -Anne Frank
Montclair High School Montclair High School
Congratulations Arden! You have Congratulations Anna, we couldn’t
wor ed so hard to ulfill your be more roud o you! e re so
dreams. We are so excited
e ited to see where your tale ts
or your e t adve ture!
will ta e you e t.
Love you so muc h, Mum, Dad,
Z ac h, K ayla Love you lots! xoxo Dad, Mom
and E llie

Christopher Smith Kamille Richardson

Glenfield Middle School Montclair High School
o rats o your raduatio rom Congratulations to Kamille
G S! ishi you the best as you Ri hardso homas o t lair i h
be i your e t jour ey at S! S hool ob ell o e....
eredith Gra e y h We couldn’t be more proud! e re ery roud ou.
Love always, Mom, Dad & Aaron
Mom, K . T aylor and B illy .. Eva Owgang
Montclair High School WE LOV E Y A
Montclair High School
Congratulations and
best wishes o your raduatio . You made it!! We could not be more
e re so roud o you! roud o you. e love you so mu h
Love, Mom and Dad a d a t wait to see you su eed at
a d beyo d.
Love, Mom, Dad, Lexi and P arke r

Emmah Pitts armo y McCormick

Nishuane Elementary Watchung Elementary
Congratulations, Emmah! Congratulations on graduating
e are so roud o you. at h out th rade! e are so roud o you!
a el o ma illside here omes mmah! Middle School - here she comes!
We Love you, Mommy, Daddy Love Always, Mommy, Oma,
Montclair High School and Minah P op- P op, N eeN ee & U nc le Devin Elias Pearlman
a el! o ratulatio s o your Montclair High School
graduation! You sailed through the
eah lias! e are so roud o you
ast years with ra e i d ess
a d are so e ited as you o ti ue
humor a d ama i style.
your jour ey at Sa ie o a obs
We love you. Mom, Dad, George.
S hool o i eeri . ay to o!
Love your family.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 27

Congratulations
Montclair
Class of 2020!
The function of education is to teach one to think
Kamille intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus
Ada Mae Albright
Richardson-Thomas character – that is the goal of true education.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr. Montclair High School
Montclair High School
Dearest Ada, we are so proud of the
RMZBC CONGRATULATES
woman you’ve become: thoughtful,
KAMILLE RICHARDSON-
THOMAS MHS CLASS OF 20. caring, smart and kind. We love and
We love you and are so proud of celebrate you, your hard work and
you. Jeremiah 29: 1 “F or I kn ow your bright future!
the pl ans.... Grac e and P eac e”

Homeless Students Asia Williams

All High Schools Hillside Elementary School
Asia, you have always been a
We Are Proud of Your Efforts. champion. Your determination, hard
If You Graduated, work and beautiful spirit is truly an
CONGRATULATIONS!
inspiration to everyone around you.
You continue to shine and I couldn’t
Teah Bordick
Minah Pitts If You Didn’t Make It This Time, be more proud of you. You will be
everything you desire and more. Montclair High School
KEEP STRIVING! We See YOU!
Hillside Elementary C ongrats, love Mom We are so proud of you,
congratulations! So excited for the
Congratulations, Minah!
next phase in your j ourney and the
We are so proud of you.
new adventures ahead.
We Love you - Mommy, Daddy
and E mmah Love, Mom, Dad, T yler and R eec e

Scott Drukker Jr. Alexis C. Raymond

Montclair State University William Paterson University
Graduating with honors. Congratulations Alexis, We are
“The sky is the limit son”. proud of your accomplishments
Amanda Murnick Love, Mom, Dad, Melissa and may the Lord continue to order
and T hurston your steps and guide through every
Montclair High School
new chapter. Love Mom and Dad
Congratulations Amanda!!
We are so proud of you!!
You did it!! Next stop Stevens.
We Love Y ou!
Mom, Dad, Allison,
C onnor, S c ott, and Megan
Page 28 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY

108 get a special send-off

Celebrating
their ‘very
best selves’

O
n Sunday, June 7, 108 Mont-
clair Kimberley Academy
seniors and their families
were invited to a drive-up
ceremony where students picked
up their diplomas and other gifts or
awards from the school. Professional
pictures were taken, seniors were
dressed in Commencement attire,
and excitement prevailed all while
adhering to CDC and State of New
Jersey guidelines for social distanc-
ing.
Looking forward to the day when
celebrations can be held in person,
a fun and festive Commencement
event is scheduled in July, should the
State of New Jersey allow it.
In a video that virtually conferred
PHOTOS COURTESY MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY
diplomas to the class of 2020, Head
Families take photos as their graduates receive their diplomas during the Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School’s of Upper School Dr. David Flocco
commencement ceremony earlier this month.
noted to the senior class, “You are
graduating at an unprecedented time
in our country’s history. We are so
Onward and upward proud of you and grateful for the
time you have spent with us.”
MKA’s Class of 2020 is matriculating to the following
In closing remarks, Headmaster
62 schools (number of students per school in paren- Mr. Thomas W. Nammack added,
theses): “Throughout your time at MKA and
American University, Amherst College, Boston
now and in recent days we have
College (4), Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, celebrated your accomplishments
Bucknell University, Butler University, Clemson as members of the Class of 2020.
University, Colby College (2), College of the Holy
Cross;
You have led and been a part of
brilliant performances, of fierce and
Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Duke Uni- hard-won competitions and cham-
versity, Elon University, Emory University, Fordham
University, George Washington University (2),
pionships, of compelling moments
Georgetown University, Hamilton College, Indiana of scholarship and indelible gestures
University; of friendship and compassion. I
James Madison University, Johns Hopkins University
Senior Amanda Mack receives her diploma, and hope that the habits, discipline,
traditional sweater, from MKA Headmaster Thomas and passion that gave rise to these
(2), Johnson & Wales University, Lafayette College
Nammack.
(3), Lehigh University (4), Loyola University Mary- achievements will never change,
land, Middlebury College, Muhlenberg College,
New York University (5), Northeastern University (3);
while you continue to grow and seek
what it means to be your very best
Occidental College, Pennsylvania State University selves.”
(2), Princeton University, Rhode Island School of
Design, Rutgers University, Southern Methodist
University, Stanford University, Stevens Institute of MKA’s Class of 2020 graduates
Technology, Syracuse University (3), The College of from the town of Montclair include:
New Jersey;
Elizabeth Appel-Caraccioli,
The Winchendon School (2), Tufts University (4), William Appel-Caraccioli, Aedan
Tulane University (4), University of Alabama (2), Uni- Brundrett, Luciano Calandra,
versity of California at Santa Barbara, University of
Chicago, University of Colorado-Boulder, University
John Colbert, Harry Davison, Jack
of Hartford (2), University of Maryland (2), University DiLorenzo, Natalia Eichmann, Shea
of Miami (3); Hammond, Hannah Jablons, Lily
University of Michigan (4), University of Pennsylva-
Jones, Diana Kazarian, Ainsley
nia (2), University of Richmond, University of Roch- Manlowe, Sabrina Noble, Elana
Portrait photos of each of the graduates adorn the
ester, University of Virginia , Vanderbilt University
main lawn at the Upper School campus. Pictured are
Perlmutter, Ryan Salzman, Maria
(2), Villanova University (4), Wake Forest University
(2), Washington University St Louis (3), Wesleyan Headmaster Thomas Nammack, Head of Upper School Sanchez Gomez-Alvarez, Milian
University, Widener University, Yale University (3) David Flocco, and Kathleen Logan, head of the Board of Seeve, Beyer White, Jack Wilkin,
Trustees. Claire Willis and Daniel Zinn.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 29

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY

EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO THE CLASS OF 2020
Elizabeth Appel-Caraccioli Alexander Christian Sydney Fishman Megha Jain Michelle Medawar Naren Rajani Chloe Stuart
William Appel-Caraccioli Michael Christian Jaime Fuchs Arianna Jobst Jamen Meistrich Benjamin Ribicoff Alexander Sylvander
Amna Arain Hayley Cirenza Sarah Gabriel Lily Jones Samuel Moshiashvili Alexis Riley Emily Talkow
Daniel Arcilla John Colbert Arman Ganchi Katherine Kallay Lauren Muscarelle Jasmine Rowe David Wallace
Aja Blair Tiffany Crowley Andrew Garofalo Diana Kazarian Narena Nerahoo Ryan Salzman Griffin Weil
William Blake Cristina Cusmai Olivia Gottlieb Bennett Knowles Sabrina Noble Maria Sanchez Gomez-Alvarez Sydney Weinstein
Samantha Bodmer Ciara Daly Madison Green Charlie Koenig Grace Nonnon Parker Santo Domingo Beyer White
Anna Bradley Grant Davis Nahome Hagos Maya Kwapniewski John O’Connell Emily Sasfai Jack Wilkin
Jaycee Brill Harry Davison Meghan Halvey Arnelle Larose Matthew O’Donnell Aashni Sawhney Claire Willis
Aedan Brundrett Gabrielle Delgado Shea Hammond Kendall Larrier Geena Pacifico Milian Seeve Nathalie Wilson
Luciano Calandra Jack DiLorenzo Julia Hansen Isabella Liu Jonathan Park Rohan Sinha Daniel Zinn
Ava Cappitelli Jenna Donaldson Tristan Holup Amanda Mack Elana Perlmutter Rohit Sinha Kayla Zur
Olivia Carter Natalia Eichmann Grace Huntington Payman Mahdi Julia Petrocelli Alina Smith
Yousuf Cheema Yasmin Elmasry Hannah Jablons Ainsley Manlowe Nina Picolli Hunter Smith
Myles Cherry David Falis Aaron Jacobowitz Willa Marshall Biren Pramanik Evan Song
Alexander Chon Jillian Fishback Cole Jacobson Courtney McCants Aline Quintana Nicholas Steinmetz

A COED, INDEPENDENT PREK-12 SCHOOL I MKA.ORG I 973.746.9800 I 201 VALLEY ROAD, MONTCLAIR, NJ
Page 30 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Lacordaire honors graduates

as school caps its 100th year

PHOTOS COURTESY LACORDAIRE ACADEMY

Lacordaire Academy senior Leah Ramos rides during the school’s drive-through commemoration of the Class of 2020’s graduation.

L
acordaire Academy marked its 100th year with a variety of celebrations for its
graduating classes in special ways, due to the pandemic.
The celebrations began on June 4 with a kindergarten drive-through
parade, where each graduate left their cars to receive a bag of memorabilia.
Then, on June 5, Lacordaire celebrated its eighth-grade graduates with a “virtual
luncheon,” and four days later, on the day of the scheduled eighth-grade ceremony,
staff and the academy’s mascot, Roary, visited each of the graduates’ homes to deliver
celebratory lawn signs.
Lacordaire’s graduating seniors, meanwhile, continued the tradition of driving
with their families through the academy circle one last time while being filmed “live”
on Lacordaire’s social media accounts. On the original graduation date, June 6, Head
of School Megan Mannato of Montclair and Director of Guidance Kaitlyn Tashjian
visited each of the graduates’ homes and delivered diplomas, flowers, some cards and
gifts, and their individualized lawn signs.
The Academy’s valedictorian this year was Alice Lake of Verona, while its salutato-
Elizabeth Kelly of Montclair takes part in Lacordaire’s Senior Parade.
rian was a tie between Holly Lake of Verona and Amanda Pisarczyk of Cedar Grove.
Lacordaire will celebrate all graduations in person on July 25 outside on their
property and wishes all of their graduates much luck in the future.

Eighth-grade
graduates at
Lacordaire are
celebrated with
Lacordaire administrators visiting lawn signs out-
homes with mascot Roary. side the school
building. Lacordaire’s graduating Class of 2020.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 31

Immaculate Conception to salute grads July 25

I
mmaculate Conception High L’Nai Bryant (Rider University), sity), Chariltong Piercin (acceptances
School will be holding an Tameel Chapman (Norfolk State to William Paterson University, College
in-person outdoor ceremony at University), Aldens Charles (University of St. Elizabeth, Rowan University,
Codey Field at 11 a.m. on July 25, of Bridgeport), Johan Civil (Kean Felician University, Bloomfield College,
with a rain date of July 26. In a usual University), Angel Clavijo (Stevens Kean University, Rowan University,
year, the ceremony would have been Institute of Technology); Hofstra University), Nicholas Ramdeo
held at Immaculate Conception Shawn Davis (University of New (Fairleigh Dickinson University), Sanaya
Church, with the ceremony sched- Haven), Veronica DePass (acceptances Ramos (Rutgers University), Tariq
uled for May 31 this year. to Montclair State, University of New Richardson II (Bloomfield College)
On social media, the school Haven, Rowan University, Caldwell Keith Rivera II (Delaware State
announced that diplomas would be University, Ramapo College), Kevin University), Khairi Russo (Caldwell
distributed to graduates on June 20. Duarte (Kean University), Marvin University), Junior Saintil (Dean
The two co-valedictorians are Duroseau (Savannah College of Art College), Joseph Scott (accepted to
Remilekun Amokomowo and and Design), Willensky Eustache William Paterson University, Bloomfield
Brianna Mateo, both of whom have (Fairleigh Dickinson University); College, Virginia Union University,
been accepted to Smith College. Jonathan Glover-Campell St. Peter’s University), Adisi Shakur
The ICHS Class of 2020 includes (accepted to Rider University, William Promise Lawrence (University (Bloomfield College);
the following graduates, with their Paterson University, Kean University), of Miami), Jamal Litus (Montclair Dominique Smith-Colter (Hofstra
post-graduation plans in parenthe- Jamari Gordon (William Paterson State University), Sade Lopez (Temple University), Jasmine Street-Conaway
ses: University), Kayla Nicole Hixon University), Jonathan Lora (New (Spelman College), Imani Thompson
(accepted to St. Peter’s University, Le Jersey City University), Amilkar Love (Rowan University), Malik Van
Akin Adewale Adebo (Rutgers Moyne College, Georgian Court Univer- (University of New Haven); Gronigen (William Paterson Univer-
University), Isaiah Alcantara (Fairleigh sity, DeSales University, Rider University, Kelly Lozano (Rutgers University), sity), Nasira Williams (Georgian Court
Dickinson University), Jazlynn Felician University, St. John’s University), Jailyn Lucas (The Ohio State Uni- University);
Alicea (Montclair State University), Alyssa Hunter (William Paterson versity), Illiana Maistri (Seton Hall Kolin Worthey (accepted into Kean
Bryan Almanza (Pace University), University), Courtney Johnson University), Zayon Marsh (prep school), University, Georgian Court University,
Remilekun “Remi” Amokomowo (Virginia State University); Brianna Mateo (Smith College); The College of University, The College
(Smith College); Christopher Jones (St. Thomas Cheyann Matranga (Rutgers of New Jersey, Bloomfield College, Penn
Jadelynn P. Arana (Centenary Aquinas University), Maniyah Kemp- University), Justin McDaniel (Kean State University, Caldwell University,
University), Shannah Beaublanc Smith (William Paterson University), University), Elana Mitchell-Mills College of St. Elizabeth, Montclair State
(Bloomfield College), Zion Bethea Harold Lane (University of Notre (Rutgers University), Kelechi Okoro University, St. Peter’s University), Jonah
(Hofstra University), Taisha Bleasdell Dame), Azatah Lawrence (California (Pace University), Grovert Oropeza Wright (Hampton University), Tyree
(Johnson & Wales University), Adriana University of Pennsylvania), Kendra (SUNY-Broome Community College); Young (accepted into Georgian Court
Brown (Delaware State University); Lawrence (Union County College); Elijah Perry (Virginia State Univer- University, William Paterson University)
Page 32 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Championships, milestones and

memories from the Class of 2020
Outgoing senior athletes at Montclair 0-0, for the Prep B crown, defeat Girls basketball: Immaculate
High School, Montclair Kimberley Lodi Immaculate, 3-0, for the North goes a perfect 13-0 to win the
Academy, and Immaculate Conception Jersey, Non-Public B trophy, and SEC-Freedom Division title.
High School have all made an impact in tie Moorestown Friends, 3-3, for a
helping their teams achieve excellence on share of the overall Non-Public B SPRING 2018
the field. To celebrate them,we went back state championship. MHS wins the Girls track and field: MHS
in the archives and have listed the league, Super Essex Conference-American wins both the SEC-American
county, sectional, and State champion- Division title. Division championship and the
ships won by MHS, MKA and ICHS Field hockey: MKA defeats Essex County championship.
teams during their graduating seniors’ Princeton Day, 2-1, in overtime, to Boys lacrosse: MKA defeats
sophomore, junior, and senior years. win the Prep B championship. Rutgers Prep, 9-2, to win the Prep B
ANDREW GARDA/STAFF
The following was compiled through Boys cross country: MHS wins championship.
Montclair Local’s own records; if any Amelia Platt makes the game-winning the SEC-American championship. Girls lacrosse: MKA ties
team accomplishments are missing, let save in Montclair girls soccer’s October Girls cross country: MKA’s for first place in the SEC-Liberty
2019 Essex County Tournament champi-
us know at garda@montclairlocal.news, onship game victory.
Anna Schaller wins the individual Division with a 4-1 league record.
and we’ll highlight them in a future Essex County championship. Crew: Montclair takes first place
issue. at the Stotesbury Cup regatta, as
Boys soccer: MKA defeats Gill WINTER 2017-18 well as the SRAA Nationals.
FALL 2017 St. Bernard’s, 2-1, to win the Prep B Boys fencing: The MHS epee
Football: Montclair High title. squad wins the District 5 champi- FALL 2018
goes a perfect 12-0 and wins Girls soccer: MKA ties West onship and goes on to take third in Football: MHS goes 4-1 in the
the North Jersey Super Football Orange, 2-2, for a share of the the state squad championship. NJSFC-Liberty Division to win
Conference-Liberty Division title , Essex County Tournament title, Girls fencing: The MHS epee a share of their eighth straight
before going on to beat Union City, one of four championships or squad captures both the District conference title.
35-14, for the North 1, Group V state co-championships the Cougars 5 squad title and the overall state
championship. win. They also tie Princeton Day, squad championship. See SPORTS, page 33

We are so proud to have been a part of

your academic journey. Best wishes.

SAT/ACT PREP
Tutoring in All Subjects

973-783-2582
119 Grove Street Montclair, NJ • TutoringNJ.com
MontclairTutoringCenter@Gmail.com
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 33

WE ARE OPEN AND PREPARED TO HELP YOU.

Sports “for the motorist
from page 32 who cares”
24 HR. TOWING
Boys soccer: Montclair High COLLISION & PAINTING
boasts an undefeated regular season EXPERT
to win the SEC-American Division, APPROVED
before defeating Seton Hall on BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
penalty kicks to win the Essex
County Tournament. MKA knocks 64 Years AUTO
BODY
of Service

off Princeton Day, 4-3, to capture NJ Lic. #00438A

the Prep B title.
ANDREW GARDA/STAFF
Girls soccer: MHS wins the JOSEPH A. PASTORE & SONS
SEC-American Division title with a Immaculate’s Zion Bethea scores over 107 GROVE STREET • MONTCLAIR, NJ
6-1-0 league record. a Seton Hall Prep defender in the Lions’
February 2020 Essex County Tournament TEL: (973) 744-0808 • FAX: (973) 744-7239 • townautobody@att.net
Field hockey: MKA wins the championship game victory.
Essex-Union Conference’s White
Division with a 5-0-0 record, and FALL 2019
knocks off Princeton Day, 2-0, to
capture the Prep B championship. Girls soccer: Montclair High
Boys cross country: MHS wins runs through an unbeaten regular
the SEC-American Division title. season, winning the SEC-American
Girls cross country: MHS wins Division title, the Essex County
both the SEC-American and Essex Tournament, and the North 1, Group
County team championships, while IV sectional championship.
MKA’s Anna Schaller repeats as the Girls tennis: MHS goes 4-1 in
individual county champion. the SEC-Liberty division, earning a
share of the league title.
WINTER 2018-19 Girls cross country: The
Boys basketball: Immaculate Mountie girls win both the
wins its first-ever SEC-American SEC-American Division and Essex
Division championship with a County team championships, with
10-2 record, while MHS wins the MHS senior Evelyn Battleson-Gun-
SEC-Liberty Division title at 11-1. kel taking home the individual
Girls basketball: ICHS makes county title.
it back-to-back league titles as they
go a perfect 12-0 in the SEC-Liberty WINTER 2019-20
Division. Girls track and field: The
Girls swimming: MHS takes Mounties sweep the Essex County CONGRATULATIONS TO
first place in the SEC, winning all 11 championships, the SEC-American
of their dual meets. Division league championships, and ALL THE 2020 GRADUATES!
Girls fencing: MHS wins the the Essex County Relays for just the
NJSIAA District 5 team champi- second time in program history.
onship, in addition to a first-place Boys track and field:
sabre squad district title. The Montclair wins the Essex County
Mounties also reach the final round Championships for the first time
of the NJSIAA team tournament, since 1998.
their deepest state tourney run ever. Boys basketball: Immaculate
Girls indoor track: Montclair breaks through to win the Essex
High wins the Essex County indoor County Tournament after several
title. close calls. The Lions also go 11-1 to
win the SEC-American Division.
SPRING 2019 Ice hockey: Montclair High
Baseball: MHS stuns Seton Hall advances to the NJSIAA Public A
Prep 12-1 to win its first Greater state championship game, their first
Newark Tournament title since state title appearance in more than a
2012. decade.
Boys lacrosse: MHS wins the Boys swimming: Montclair
SEC-Liberty Division crown with a High wins the SEC-American
5-0 record. Division title as well as the North 1, A quality Pre-K is the best way to
Girls lacrosse: MKA tops Group A sectional championship.
Trinity Hall, 14-11, to win the Prep Girls swimming: MHS pulls prepare your child for Kindergarten.
B title. off the double by winning the Enroll your 4 or 5 year old today.
Boys tennis: MHS defeats SEC-American and Essex County
Bergen Tech, 4-1, to win the NJSIAA Championship crowns. The Montclair Community Pre-K
North 1, Group IV sectional title. Girls fencing: The MHS saber offers flexible scheduling and
MKA posts a perfect 10-0 league squad takes first place at the state- sliding scale tuition fees.
record to win the SEC-Liberty wide Santelli Tournament, and wins 49 Orange Rd, Montclair, NJ
Division. the NJSIAA District 5 championship. (973) 509-4500
Boys golf: MHS takes first place Girls basketball: MKA posts a
info@montclairprek.org
at the NJSIAA North 1, Group IV 13-1 record to win the SEC-Freedom www.montclairprek.org
sectional tournament. Division.
Page 34 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020

SCHOLARSHIPS

Where every penny counts

BY ERIN ROLL Montclair State University.
roll@montclairlocal.news A virtual ceremony for the students was held MONTCLAIR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
on June 12. 2020 RECIPIENTS
The COVID-19 outbreak threw a wrench into “It was a lot more challenging and actually
many aspects of school life, including getting kind of sad for us, because this is the first year Zakai Afolabi-Mack, Isis Arevalo, Maya Aris-
scholarship money awarded to students. we weren’t able to interview the students,” said tumuno, Marco Arnez, Dwayne Brooks, Eliz-
But the Montclair Scholarship Fund was able Jordan. abeth Carhart, Maximo Cespedes, Liyan
to award $201,000 to 45 graduating high school Melissa Bigelow, a secretary for the fund’s Chung, Natalia Cruz, Naa-yu Duncan, Jada
seniors this year. The scholarship fund’s review board of trustees, added: “In a usual year, [the Elliott, Michael Justin Ellis, Noah Farjani, Mari-
committee received 116 applications from Mont- committee gets] to meet the students, which is amagdalena Faulkner, Juliana Fawcett, Erica
clair High School students. Of that number, 88 really meaningful to them, and, hopefully, really Field, Angel Gaines, Judit Garcia, Shayla
students were considered. meaningful to the students.” George, Adrian James, Danielle Johnson,
Loren Johnson, Simran Kahlon, Rahzier Kelly,
In years past, the scholarship fund saw an av- In a typical year, the committee would meet in
Ali Khawaja, Ali Lin, Alizaya Londono, Kyle Marti,
erage of 60 to 80 students apply, said Leeta Jor- person with students at the high school during Janyia Mcgainey Rogers, Nguenar Ndiaye,
dan, a member of the review committee. the first week of May, so that the scholarships Arden Phillips, Greta Poglinco, Christy Rolling,
The astronomical costs of college are a factor could be awarded close to graduation. Carlos Salem-Rosario, Zachary Sanders, Lola
in the increasing number of students applying, The committee had first discussed setting up Scarpone, Stella Schaefer-Surdez, Davida Task,
she said. This year’s number of applicants, 116, Zoom interviews with the students, but there Shane Taylor, Trinity Thompson, Aamnah Ullah,
compares to 90 in 2018-2019 and 120 in 2017- was concern over all of the participants having Nicholas Urquijo, Brian White, Erick Wilson,
2018. access to computers and the internet. The com- Lucy Ziesing
“Some of these kids really overcome great ob- mittee decided to review the hard-copy applica-
stacles just to graduate from high school,” Jordan tions, and choose the qualifying students from
said. Some may have to care for a younger sib- that, said Bigelow.
ling, or hold a job to support their family, she Typically the students bring their financial But the fund’s organizers sent out a fundraising
added. aid paperwork with them to the interview. But video, featuring past scholarship recipients, to
Eight of the scholarship winners are the first this year the fund had to set up an online portal. potential donors. Between the video and other
of their family to go to college. The fund was also unable to hold one of its outreach to some of the major donors, the fund
Twenty-two are going to New Jersey pub- major fundraisers. “We were actually really ner- was able to raise close to what it would have
lic colleges, including 10 to Rutgers and six to vous because our funds were down,” Jordan said. brought in during a typical year.

PEAK Performance at
Montclair State University celebrates the Class of 2020.

Well Done!

www.peakperfs.org
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Graduation 2020 Page 35

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Page 36 Graduation 2020 Thursday, June 25, 2020
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 Obituaries
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 37

Facebook.com/MontclairLocal
>>> obituaries@montclairlocal.news Twitter: @MontclairLocal

Lorraine Ghibaudi, Project Grad co-founder

BY ROBIN WOODS College in New York City, of the event, there would
for Montclair Local my mother noticed that my be food and activities such
Russian suite-mate did not as bungee-jumping, swim-
Lorraine Ghibaudi, a have as many possessions ming, and sports. At the
research scientist who or furnishings as I did, and end of the night, the stu-
co-founded Montclair’s she completely outfitted the dents were bused back to
Project Graduation as a way rest of the room to match town, sometimes to the
for MHS graduates to safely what I had.” high school, sometimes to
celebrate their milestone, Most of her daughter’s the Salvation Army for a
died peacefully in her sleep friends and neighbors knew pancake breakfast.
on Mother’s Day, May 10, in her simply as “Mrs. G. ,” The students were bused
Mashpee, Mass. She was 85. who loved the Montclair with police and fire ambu-
Montclair High School school system. lance escorts throughout
graduation 2020 comes Her two grandchildren, Montclair to a secret loca-
in two parts: a virtual cel- Alexis, 10, and Cameron, 6, tion after the graduation
ebration held on June 24 called her Nene. She spent ceremony ended, usually to
and three in-person gradu- hours playing Barbie and a sports complex or enter-
ations on July 9, due to the board games with them, tainment venue. COURTESY VALERIE MACHINIST

COVID-19 crisis; Ghibaudi Machinist said. Besides her daughter and Lorraine Ghibaudi and her daughter Valerie at MHS graduation,
will be there, in spirit. Ghibaudi was employed grandchildren, Ghibaudi is June 1991.
But Project Graduation for more than 30 years as a survived by her son-in-law,
will not take place then, but research scientist for Sher- Brian Machinist, sister, El- held under the direction of A celebration of Ghi-
rather later, when organiz- ing-Plough in Kenilworth, eanor Biemer, and her sis- Allwood Funeral Home in baudi’s life will be held at a
ers feel it would be safe. specializing in cardiovascu- ter’s husband, Bob. Clifton on May 15, with in- later date, when the family
Despite that, her moth- lar drugs and the negative A private virtual view- terment in Calvary Ceme- feels that large gatherings
er would be proud at how health effects of obesity. ing and funeral service was tery in Paterson. are safe again.
much it has meant to stu- A longtime resident
dents, Ghibaudi’s daughter, of Montclair, she moved
Valerie Machinist, said. to Mashpee in 2006 to be
“She was always invested nearer to her family. She
in volunteering and char- and her late husband, Oc-
ity work, she felt strongly tavio Ghibaudi Jr. , had a
about giving back to her summer home there.
community and equitable Montclair’s Project
access to education, with Graduation, mhsproject-
great teachers and great graduation.org/, which she
principals for all,” Machin- helped establish in 1991,
ist said. was designed to be a “safe,
Ghibaudi served for alcohol/drug-free celebra-
years as a PTA mom and tion as a positive rite of
touched many lives at Ni- passage for all Montclair First Church of Christ,
shuane, Hillside, Glenfield, High School Graduating Scientist, Montclair
and Montclair High schools. Seniors,” according to that Church is Temporarily Closed.
Join Our Facebook Live Stream
Sundays at 10am - or - See Our
“My mother had a website. Join Us on Zoom Please Email us at
Recorded Worship Services
montclairchurch@verizon.net
chronic case of volunteer- The program is one of For Sunday and Wed. Night
•••
www.centralpresbyterian.net
ism,” Machinist said. “She many Project Graduations Call-in Number.
The Rev. David C. Noble - Pastor
had trouble saying no, be nationwide; the first began Look for the tall steeple and the open door!
it to projects at St. Cas- in Maine in 1980. The fed- 8 Hillside Avenue, Montclair
973-744-1280
sian’s Church in Montclair, eral government gave seed montclairchurch@verizon.net
www.csmontclair.com
Christ the King R.C. Church money to states across the CS Reading Room 46A Fairfield St., Montclair
in Mashpee, or nonprofit nation in 1989 to allocate to
organizations. When I at- schools for the project.
tended Columbia Teacher’s In Montclair’s version
Christian Science Saint Cassian Roman Catholic Church
Reading Room
187 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
Hugh Moriarty Jr. Hugh Moriarty III Rev. Marc A. Vicari, Pastor
NJ Lic # 3000 NJ Lic# 4912
Saturday Evening Mass: 5:30pm
Sunday Morning Mass:
Reading Room is 7:30am, 9:30am & 11:30am
OPEN Again! Effective June 21st
46A Fairfield Street (In Watchung Plaza) Weekday Mass 8:15am
Montclair, NJ 07042
3 Generations...Proudly Serving Please Call us at 973-744-3366 Penance: Saturdays 4:15-5:00pm
The Community Since 1946 for any literature orders.
Email: cs@montclairreadingroom.com 973-744-2850 www.stcassianchurch.org
Visit us at www.moriartyfuneralhome.com
76 Park St. Montclair • 973-744-4346

For advertising Information or to Reserve space

Call 862-277-5200
Page 38 News Thursday, June 25, 2020

Students ark Academy junior Jordan

McCray Robinson, and Seton
nars on how to deal with po-
lice brutality.”
study by The Steve Fund and
Jed Foundation found vic-
Hall Prep junior Julian Hud- They also want to see a tims are more likely to report
from page 1 son. more accurate depiction of if they have the option to do
After the speeches, stu- Black history within the cur- so anonymously.
frustration. dents marched down Bloom- riculum. Students like Freeman
Students from eight dif- field Avenue, where they “There’s more to Black gave evidence to this asser-
ferent high schools helped were met by supporters and history than M.L.K. and Mal- tion, saying in her speech
plan the march; students non-supporters alike. colm X,” students said, read- that speaking up is hard be-
from at least 10 participat- Several Whole Foods em- ing from a statement in front cause students don’t want to
ed. They gave speeches, read ployees came out onto the of the Montclair Municipal fall into “the angry Black girl
poems, performed danc- sidewalk to join the chant- Building on Claremont Ave- stereotype.”
es, and showed what Hagos ing. But not everyone was a nue. “If you look at @blacka-
later called “braveness and supporter. Benito Stravato, There are “empowering tmka on Instagram, a lot of KATE ALBRIGHT/
vulnerability” when sharing working construction on a men and women who have those incidents aren’t report- FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL

difficult stories about the new hair salon on Bloomfield paved the way in fields such ed because minorities don’t Shaila Saifee holds an “I Can’t
racism they have encoun- Avenue near Park Street, said as STEM, politics, business, feel like they receive support Breathe” sign in solidarity
tered from teachers, admin- he didn’t understand why the music and so much more,” from others,” Hagos said. with victims of police brutality
during the Juneteenth march.
istrators, and fellow stu- protesters were marching. the student organizers con- Students at MHS, Mount
dents. “Black Lives Matter is not tinued. St. Dominic Academy, Kent
“We see the issues in our a movement, it’s a party. We Another demand was for Place, and Newark Acad- Breanna Jones. “These stu-
schools as a microcosm of can’t end the police over a “an anonymous formal re- emy have student-created dents have strong voices and
what’s going on in the larger few bad apples,” Stravato porting system for racial in- Instagram sites with similar they are asking to be seen.
world,” Hagos said. said. cidents taking place within handles where students have And the administration is
Speakers to the assembled schools.” started anonymously report- supporting them.”
crowd outside the MKA Up- STUDENT DEMANDS Hagos and Ruqaiyyah Lu- ing incidents. The students plan to send
per School on Lloyd Road in- The protesters’ list of cas-Caldwell from Newark “I’m hoping these sto- their demands in letter form
cluded Montclair High junior demands did not include Academy will be attending ries being shared will in- to those administrators.
Janyia McGainey Rodgers, “ending the police,” but did the University of Pennsylva- spire change,” said Chelsea The protest ended in Rand
MKA junior Kelsey Freeman, include updating school cur- nia this fall. It is one of many Greene, a 2016 Mount St. Park with readings, speech-
MKA freshman Clay Hud- riculums to include “a com- universities that have an op- Dominic alumna. “Our ad- es, and dance performances
son, Montclair Education prehensive and untainted tion for students to report ra- ministration has known by Lucas-Caldwell, Matt Eid,
Association president Petal education about the Amer- cial incidents anonymously, about these issues for years. and Sharron Miller’s Acade-
Robertson, Black Lives Mat- ican police force; its roots, but Hagos does not know of A letter was sent by the class my for the Performing Arts
ter - Paterson activist and origins, triumphs, and trans- any high schools that do this. of 2016 offering strategies alumni Hannah Howell, Mi-
organizer Zellie Imani, New- gressions,” as well as “semi- Research such as a for change and they failed chael Ellis, Cece Mitchell,
to respond. We just want our and Olivia Lowe.
voices to be heard.” Gabrielle Narcisse, Kent
It’s Hard To Forget Someone.. “I don’t know how practi-
cal anonymity is in reporting
Place 2019, another SMAPA
alumna, performed a piece
Who Gave You So Much To Remember. bias,” Dr. David Flocco, head
of the MKA Upper School,
mixing movement and per-
sonal narrative with music
said. “A big part of resolving and audio recording clips.
these issues is speaking to She said she plans to study
the person harmed and using “art as a form of resistance”
restorative justice practices at the Gallatin School of New
to make sure the relation- York Univeristy this fall.
ship gets repaired.” But he “’I’m really proud of how
said there may be an oppor- this was one step in kind
tunity, and he is interested in of bridging the MKA-MHS
talking with students to find cross-town rivalry,” said
out what it would look like in Blackout organizer Larose
practice. after the event.
Other demands, as read Those tensions were exac-
before the Montclair Munic- erbated at a basketball game
ipal Building, were: on Feb. 28 when words con-
• Professional develop- sidered classist and racist
ment regarding racism in the were used by an MKA stu-
classroom. dent under the guise of com-
• In-school mental health petitive taunting.
programs geared toward “MKA kids and MHS kids
Black students. worked together to organize,
• An established connec- and seeing as the march was
tion between Black student a walk between those two
groups and school adminis- schools, it felt very unifying,”
tration. Larose said.
• Increased collaboration “I’m very happy I got to
Richelle B. Williams among Essex County schools.
“As an alum, something
graduate on a hopeful note
regarding that. Now I have
Manager & Funeral Director this large-scale is not some- new friends from all over the
48 Elm St. Montclair N.J. • 973-746-2158 thing I’m used to seeing at area, all of which are inter-
Martins@martinshfs.com MKA,” said 2008 grad and ested in the kind of work that
current MKA pre-K teacher still needs to be done.”
 Culture
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 39

Feature your arts or community group! Facebook.com/MontclairLocal

>>> arts@montclairlocal.news Twitter: @MontclairLocal

EXHIBITS

A public, townwide gallery

Fresh Air
Montclair puts
art in building
windows
BY GWEN OREL
orel@montclairlocal.news

When you look at an empty

storefront, or a series of empty
storefronts, your heart sinks a little.
Your step hurries. You don’t want to
linger.
But what if the store windows
held art?
Pictures of a woman dancing
with a mask on?
A spreading maple tree, embrac-
ing the forest?
A striking installation made out
of garbage?
Some business owners and art
curators in town began thinking
along the same lines a few months
ago: Art in those windows would lift
everyone’s spirits.
Fresh Air Montclair Exhibitions
opened last month.
On Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. ,
Fresh Air Montclair will hold a fash-
ion parade at the Crescent Shops,
18-30 South Fullerton Ave. , leading
to a designer showcase in front of
641 Bloomfield Ave. , followed by a
KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
ribbon-cutting.
Dan Fenelon’s “Urban Illuminations” at 619 Bloomfield Ave.
Business owner Luther Flurry
spoke to photographer Arman-
do “OUTthere” Diaz about doing the Montclair Business Improve- were nearly 20 exhibits by the end Fresh Air Montclair
something in the windows. Diaz ment District’s Montclair Mondays of the first week. “We really hit
then contacted Kathryn Waggener conversations, held on Zoom with the ground running,” Gleason said.
Ribbon-cutting and fashion parade
McGuire, owner of Clerestory Fine DesignShed. “Nobody’s said no yet. Every cou- on Sunday, June 28, 3 p.m.
Art, who held Diaz’s first solo show People began to talk about “how ple of days we’re redoing the credit
in August 2019. we could bring awareness to exist- panel on the website.” Begins in front of “EGALLUTS: Quar-
antined,” photography by Armando
As McGuire began planning an ing business, and boost morale,” Diaz is in the process of arrang- “OUTthere” Diaz, at The Crescent
installation of Diaz’s photography McGuire said. “I subscribe to the ing for his art to move to other shop Shops, 18-30 South Fullerton Ave.
in stores on South Fullerton, she re- broken-window theory, that the windows, including windows in the Will conclude in front of 641 Bloom-
field Ave.
alized that around the corner, Mary psychology of dismal space is bad South End.
Z. Scotti, of 73 See Gallery Design for assumptions about the neigh- And the public art in windows Organized by Cynthia Walker
Studio, was installing an exhibition borhood and morale.” will likely keep going: Nobody of Start Out Fresh Intervention
Advocates (S.O.F.I.A.) and Kathryn
of three artists in the windows of For Jason Gleason, director of knows how long some version of Waggener McGuire of Clerestory
Pure Energy Hair Studio on Bloom- BID, the idea was a “no-brainer.” the shutdown will last, and “things Fine Art.
field Avenue. “Art is baked into the whole his- opening up doesn’t mean a lack of
“InSide Out,” at Studio Mont-
Each exhibition had a charitable tory of Montclair. This is a perfect vacancies,” McGuire said. clair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield Ave.,
mission, McGuire raising funds for showcase, getting people back to through August.
Start Out Fresh Intervention Advo- business,” Gleason said. “Fresh Air A GIFT
Ar t in storefront windows
cates (S.O.F.I.A.) and Scotti for the Montclair makes the street into a Armisey Smith’s art, from her throughout Montclair. For details,
Northeast Coalition. ‘public museum.’” visit Freshairmontclair.com.
Flurry connected the curators to The idea caught on quickly: There See FRESH, page 44
Page 40 Culture Thursday, June 25, 2020

Let’s hear it for, and from, the dads

Welcome
to
Montclair
Kirsten Levingston

Kirsten D. Levingston moved to

Montclair in 2008. She works in the city
and writes on the side. In “Welcome to
Montclair” she explores the quirks of this
special town. Her work has appeared in
The New York Times, Huffington Post,
and Baristanet.
In honor of Father’s Day, my column
this month offers a glimpse of our town
through the eyes of a few of its dads. To
bring this image into focus, I spoke with a
COURTESY WALLS TRIMBLE
handful of fathers who open their Gmail
COURTESY KIRSTEN D. LEVINGSTON Mark Hurwitz with daughters Layla and
accounts on Sundays and spoke to me
Jonathan Simon with children Jackson and MacKenzie. Josie.
candidly.

It wasn’t until Xavier Donaldson

moved to Montclair that he
realized something about his own
childhood. When he and his brother
were growing up in the 1970s
and 1980s — first in Liberty City,
Miami, and then in the South Bronx
— his father was the only dad in the
neighborhood.
“I don’t recall seeing or spending
time with anyone else’s father —
ever,” he says. When he connects
with childhood friends today, even
those he hasn’t seen in 20 years, the
first thing his friends ask is, “How is
your Dad?”
For Donaldson, the best thing
about being a dad to two boys in
COURTESY CANDI CARTER COURTESY KIRSTEN D. LEVINGSTON
Montclair is being surrounded
Joseph E. Carter and his daughter Lily. Ken Zimmerman’s children bury him in hay.
by other dads. With fathers as
far as the eye can see — coaching
or cheering from the sidelines at collaborating,” Hurwitz says. for themselves and our society, and parenting. Black kids “need to stay
Northeast’s Soccerthon, sipping Montclair dads also talked about preparing them for a world that will armored with the reality that their
lattes at Starbucks, barbecuing, or the resources Montclair offers. push back on their dreams. experience may not be like those of
walking their dogs — Montclair is Joseph Carter has three kids, Dads pointed to a paradox — the others, even in Montclair,” accord-
what Donaldson calls “Dad town.” including a son with special needs. racial and economic diversity they ing to Simon, a Black dad.
For Ken Zimmerman, it’s been In Montclair, his family can access love here spotlights realities they That armor is heavy for children
refreshing to raise kids in a place a number of services and support hate. George Kendall appreciates and parents to carry. Donaldson,
where dads don’t claim to have systems easily. Jonathan Simon, that his kids have “an assortment also a Black dad, knows its weight.
all the answers. Montclair is the who heads the Montclair Public of friends that resembles a UN As an adult he’s been stopped by
reverse Lake Wobegon, Zimmer- Library Foundation board, calls our meeting.” At the same time, “all the police at least 25 times. And as a kid
man says, the fictional town that town’s cultural riches — including ills of inequality are here and in in Miami and the South Bronx, he
Garrison Keillor describes as a place a museum, a film festival, a jazz your face,” Kendall says. “Why is says, he was stopped every couple
where “all the women are strong, festival, and, of course, a great club soccer overwhelmingly white? of days. Donaldson regularly,
all the men are good-looking, and library — “gifts” to our children. … why is there not more support for repeatedly tells his son that when
all the children are above-average.” struggling students in our schools?” (not if) he is stopped by police,
Zimmerman and his dad friends PARENTING AND PROGRESS Several dads noticed their kids “your job is to put your hands
say they are open about challenges For all of these pluses, being a had moved through Montclair’s up, palms out, and make it home
and shortcomings — their own and Montclair dad presents challenges, pre-K through middle school with safely.”
those of their kids. too. Tony Schuman, dad of twin diverse classroom peers and friend But each of the dads I spoke
Mark Hurwitz can relate. “I love boys, says that Montclair kids groups, only to enter racial silos to has hope that people across
the way Montclair makes being a sometimes outpace the progressive- once they reached high school. our community and country are
dad feel like a collective enterprise. ness of their parents; for example, Black dads are particularly aware beginning to realize the relentless
There is a strong network of dads many call for abolition of the police. of the challenges facing Black injustice and trauma Black people
(and of course moms!) who are Fathering here is a balancing act — youngsters, especially Black young face and feel — daily — even in
continually comparing notes and encouraging your kids’ aspirations men. This awareness affects their Montclair.
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Culture Page 41

FOOD

Fighting anxiety and racism

with baking
#MBCbakealong nuts, commemorating the Marriage
Equality Act, which was upheld
raises money for by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, legal-
National Coalition izing same-sex marriage in all 50
of 100 Black states. Wyman is donating $4 from
the sale of each box of four dough-
Women nuts to the LGBTQ community.

Montclair Bread Co.

BY ROBIN WOODS 6 Label St.
for Montclair Local 973-528-8013
montclairbread.com/store
Many things changed at Mont-
clair Bread Co. on Label Street RACHEL WYMAN’S
during the quarantine. COCONUT CAKE RECIPE
Instead of seeing customers come Cake:
in and out to eat or pick up food, 2 cups sugar
owner Rachel Wyman sold baked 3¼ cups flour
goods and pantry staples online and 2½ tsp. baking powder
with no-contact pickup. 1 tsp. salt
Wyman also began posting rec- 1½ sticks melted, unsalted butter
ipes on her website, beginning in 1¼ cups coconut milk
March, even before the shutdown. 4 eggs
People responded.
“I posted the recipes on our web- Frosting:
site, and so many people posted 2 sticks unsalted butter
photos of the end 1 box (3½ cups) powdered sugar
COURTESY DANIELLE NEFF
result,” Wyman ¼ cup coconut milk
said. Initially, post- Danielle Neff baked a coconut cake for the #MBCbakealong. 1 bag sweetened shredded coconut
ing the recipes was
something she did es from the participants and others my first try making a coconut cake. Instructions:
to ease peoples’ made up the remainder of the dona- We like to bake a lot in our house, Stir the dry ingredients together in
anxiety. It quickly tion. but hadn’t baked in a while. Rachel a large bowl. Add the melted butter.
became a kind of The recipe for the week was coco- helped us get the ingredients, picked Stir until it looks pebble-y. Whisk
RACHEL contest, as people nut cake, which was not an accident, up at Montclair Bread.” eggs and coconut milk. Add one-
WYMAN shared photos of Wyman said: “Slaves knew how to Weekly contest winners received third of the liquid to the dry ingredi-
their results. Some- break down coconuts, which grew in a box of assorted doughnuts deliv- ents. Stir until pasty. Repeat this step
times she received more than 100 a many of the homelands where they ered by Wyman if they lived in town, two more times; this avoids lumps
week. were born, many of them transport- or she mailed a Montclair Bread Co. in the batter.
That was the beginning of #MB- ed by ships to the South. My coconut T-shirt to out-of-town participants.
Cbakealong, where she would post cake recipe was easy to follow, deli- Wyman said, “The National Coali- Divide the batter between two
recipes to all of the bakery’s social cious and a way for people to bake tion of 100 Black Women had the greased and floured 8-inch cake
media and people at home would through their anxiety.” most pledges for the coconut cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 de-
bake their own versions. Wyman also spread word about bake-along. We didn’t have a winner, grees. Remove cake from oven and
Bakers Against Racism, based another baking and social justice because there was a different focus de-pan.
in Washington, D.C. , had started a movement, The Club From No- for that week.”
global bake sale, asking professional where. Founded in 1955 by Geor- Home bakers are welcome to par- Make the frosting. I use a mixer with
and home bakers to donate funds to gia Gilmore, an African American ticipate in the bake-along, which is a paddle. Cream the butter. When it’s
any organization that fights racism. woman from Montgomery, Ala. , its continuing each Wednesday to Tues- white and fluffy, add the powdered
Montclair Bread Co.’s #MBCbake- members sold sandwiches at meet- day. sugar. Finally, add the coconut milk.
along joined in and raised $4,000, ings and raised money to support The bakery reopened this past Whip for 3 to 4 minutes.
donated to the National Coalition the historic bus boycott then going Monday, June 22, with new ways of
of 100 Black Women. The nonprofit on in that city. doing business. Nobody is allowed Shave the dome off the cake layers
volunteer organization for African Montclair baker Kim Ranges into the shop, and contactless out- with a long, serrated knife. Spread
American women, based in New learned about The Club From No- door pickup remains in place, but frosting on the top of the bottom
York, promotes gender and racial where from Wyman. Ranges said now customers can preorder items layer, sprinkle with coconut and
equality. her coconut cake turned out “lopsid- for same-day pickup. There is seat- smear some frosting on the bottom
“I acknowledge that I have a large ed, but delicious.” ing again on the patio, although food of the top layer before sandwiching
platform, and my voice carries,” Wy- Danielle Raymond Neff also is packed to go. together. Coat the rest of the cake
man said. MBC donated $2 to the made a coconut cake, with the help Montclair Bread Co. continues to with frosting and coconut.
organization for every cake baked; of her older son, Charlie. She said, bake for a cause. June is Pride month,
participants made 125 cakes. Pledg- “The recipe was super-easy, and and MBC is selling Pride dough- @MontclairBreadCompany
Page 42 Thursday, June 25, 2020

In These Challenging Times...

“We all need to help each other,
please join US in giving a generous
contribution to our local food banks”
The Human needs Food Pantry
www.humanneedsfoodpantry.org
The Salvation Army
sarmy@montclaircitadel.org
Toni’s Kitchen /St Luke’s
toniskitchen@gmail.com

Now more than ever our

community needs your support .

PLEASE DONATE TODAY!

Be safe, be faithful & be kind
Andrew Renda, Esq, Jack Voynick, Esq.

PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

Thursday, June 25, 2020 Culture Page 43

Busking under lockdown

Steps
Concrete Work
Sidewalk
Bluestone
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Page 44 Culture Thursday, June 25, 2020

Fresh exhibitions — and SMI is

planning its annual mem-
The death of George
Floyd brought another
age 46 of COVID-19.
Yvette Lucas, whose
ber show as a virtual show shift, she said. The African work is displayed at Pure
from page 39 right now — the art in win- American man was killed Energy Hair Studio, along
dows makes it “fun to drive on May 25 by a policeman with the works of Kate
series “Side-eye, Pink-eye,” or walk down Bloomfield holding a knee to his neck. Dodd and Monika Smer-
will be in the windows of Avenue. It makes you want “I wanted to address ra- del, created work showing a
the Studio Montclair Inc. to be there.” And it’s safe, cial inequities and microag- large tree called the Mother
gallery at 127 Bloomfield you’re not going into an en- gression, this myth of free- Tree. She also made works
Ave. beginning tomorrow. closed space, Baker added. dom, what freedom means using leaves she collected in
SMI gallery joined Fresh Smith began working on for certain people,” Smith Brookdale Park.
COURTESY ARMISEY SMITH
Air Montclair Exhibits and her “Side- said. “I saw the whole piece
launched “InSide Out” at eye” series “Mama,” a painting in response Having her work dis- as showing respect for our
to the death of George Floyd.
the beginning of June. Stu- of paint- played in windows makes natural environment, our
dio Montclair has always ings and more of a statement than connection to it, and then a
hung art in its windows, but mixed me- cavalier attitude from white it would if it were in a tra- bit of a warning about abus-
much of the art in “InSide dia, includ- people about not wearing a ditional gallery setting, she ing it,” Lucas said. The title
Out” was created as installa- ing masks, mask. African Americans added: “Montclair is a di- of the Pure Energy show,
tions for the whole window. last year. are more at risk. verse town, and I’m hoping organized by Scotti, is
Santiago Cohen, said SMI ARMISEY “It was in “I decided to do the that it will speak to a variety “Seeds to the Future.”
Executive Director Susanna SMITH response to ‘Side-eye, Pink-eye’ series. of people.” Fresh Air Montclair is a
Baker, designed an instal- inequities Pinkeye has a lot of conno- Having the art in win- way to ease isolation, Lucas
lation using mannequins, I encountered as an Afri- tations about getting sick, dows might encourage said. “People need art. This
about “Day of the Dead.” can American woman,” she it’s an indicator of illness. some people who do not is a great way to bring it to
“Montclair is such an art said. “One of the ways we The women that I paint think of themselves as art everyone in the community.
town,” Baker said. “It’s sad respond is to give the side are looking at whoever the lovers to engage with the It’s a gift.”
when there’s nothing to see. eye, ‘Are you serious?’ Then viewer is, thinking ‘Why do work, Smith said. The community seems to
The museum is closed, gal- when COVID hit, I thought, you not care whether or not Diaz dedicates his work agree. Gleason said, “People
leries are closed.” ‘Okay, let me try to figure I get sick because of the col- to his childhood friend Gary are leaving thank-you notes
While there are virtual out a way to talk about the or of my skin?’” Glover, who recently died at on Post-its.”

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Thursday, June 25, 2020 Culture Page 45
Page 46 Culture Thursday, June 25, 2020

EDITOR’S Due to the statewide ban on gatherings of any size, as well as the cancellation of dozens of events and programs throughout town and the
uncertainty of scheduling for the near future, Montclair Local will not be publishing its “Local Listings” in this week’s issue. Please con-
NOTE: tinue to email us your event listings at listings@montclairlocal.news — we hope to return to publishing the calendar as soon as possible.

GAMES

1. Protects from weather 30. Egyptian unit of weight

4. Superhigh frequency 31. Fiddler crabs
7. Southern constellation 32. Carroll O’Connor’s TV wife
8. Swines 39. No longer having life
10. Self-righteously moralistic 41. Former OSS
person 42. A way to emit sound
12. United Arab Emirates city 43. Mandela’s party
13. Surinam toad 44. Adult female chicken
14. Sign language 45. U. of Miami’s mascot
16. Tattoo (slang) 46. Southeastern Chinese people
17. Makes level 48. Casino game
19. Sun up in New York 49. Amos Alonzo __, US football
20. It must be scratched coach
Last week’s sudoku 21. Where people live 50. Joint connecting two pipes at
and crossword, solved: 25. Swiss river right angles
26. Buddy 51. Will Ferrell film
27. One of two equal parts of a 52. River in NE Scotland
divisible whole
29. Shrek is one

1. Occur 24. Paddle

2. Show up 27. Worked the soil
3. Capital of Taiwan 28. Alias
4. Former French coin 29. Plant cultivated in Peru
5. Some are bad 31. Side-blotched lizards genus
6. Monetary unit 32. Wild dog
8. Package (abbr.) 33. Immoral act
9. Indian religious person 34. Pound
11. Crew 35. Manning and Lilly are two
14. Antidiuretic hormone 36. Put on the shelf for now
15. Makeshift 37. Baltimore ballplayer
18. Baseball box score stat 38. Cuddle
19. Make a mistake 39. Dashes
20. Not moving 40. Related on the mother’s side
22. Even distribution of weight 44. Witch
www.montclairlocal.news 23. Clumsy person 47. Kilogram force (abbr.)
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Page 47

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